Bandra (E) colony to make way for diplomatic enclave

The age-hold Bandra Government Colony (BGC) at Bandra East, near the Bandra Kurla Complex, may soon make way for a new diplomatic enclave spread over 100 acres. The new enclave is likely to be developed as a free-sale component via the redevelopment of the BGC, as per section 33(3)(a) and 33(3)(b) of the Development Control Regulations.

These sections permit the FSI to be exceeded by 50 percent for cases involving the redevelopment of government and BMC residential quarters. The process of redevelopment of the BGC is likely to begin within a year of the implementation of the state's new housing policy.

According to the state's draft housing policy, the existing Bandra Government Colony had outlived its utility, akin to many such older government colonies spread throughout the state. The proposal has already raised a storm in certain quarters with some hinting that the move comes at the behest of a developer who is said to have been present at the meeting of the consultative committee at Lonavla, near Pune.

As per the draft policy, MMRDA is facing a severe shortage of land while the city does not have a designated area for foreign consulates, high commissions and trade missions, which are scattered all over the city, with a few like the American Consulate and the UK High Commission having their offices in the G Block of the BKC.

Elaborating on the choice of BGC as the ideal location for a diplomatic enclave, the policy highlights that it is contiguous with the BKC, enjoys easy access from the Western express Highway and is well-connected with the G Block of the BKC that houses select diplomatic offices. To ensure the efficient development of this 'showcase' project, the MMRDA plans to engage a world-renowned architect to design the enclave and execute the project on its own without any private participation by enlisting the help of best in class contractors for project execution purposes.

The policy further proposes that the nodal MMRDA be given the responsibility for the redevelopment of the colony, wherein government housing will be created as per the stated requirement, while the diplomatic enclave would be established in the surplus area as a free sale component. The revenue thus generated will be utilized to redevelop all such government housing colonies across Maharashtra by 2022.

The proposal has drawn flak from several quarters who have questioned the government's intention behind such a proposal. According to sources, the government's affordable housing policy should concentrate on providing homes to the large number of low and mid-income category residents in the state who cannot afford buying a home in a private project, as opposed to catering to a select section of society that was already being serviced by the market per se.