Offering great convenience to both home buyers and developers, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has lifted the blanket restrictions of 55.10m on real estate projects within a 20 km radius of the new Navi Mumbai airport. The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) has announced that real estate projects up to 160.10 meters (about 48 stories) can now be built based on Obstacle Limit Surface Specification (OLS) by the DGCA and will be awarded No Objection Certificates (NOC) for the same. AAI is expected to start awarding NOCs for projects above 55.10m in height from the first week of August 2022.
“The collaborative teamwork and active support provided by all the officials involved in resolving such a critical technical issue amicably is highly commendable. Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, SEDCO said.
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The decision is a huge win for the Navi Mumbai real estate sector which has seen success since 2018 when the building’s 55.10m (16 storeys) ceiling height was imposed.
“After repeated efforts by CREDAI-MCHI to pursue the regulatory authorities of CIDCO, NMIAL has, eventually, resolved to develop projects closer to Navi Mumbai Airport. This will help provide a significant boost to the sector where housing projects including redevelopment projects will now commence. It has been in an ambiguous position for the past three years (approximately) in receiving CCs and OCs that will help homebuyers move away from anomalies that are restricting growth in the sector.While mandating bodies are supporting demand in the region with their approvals, it will also be important to review Color Coded Zone Map (CCZM) to facilitate better clarity for all relevant stakeholders,” said Rajesh Prajapati, President and Founder of CREDAI-MCHI (Raigad).
Decisions of mass cap or approval of maximum height taken by AAI like now are always the best solution for the authorities and developers to facilitate doing business in our country and clear the backlog in the direction of development. Dinesh Doshi, Managing Director of Tulsi Realty said, “The decision to shift the radar and give elevation clearance to some extent is a great relief to developers in Navi Mumbai as projects purchased in the tender of CIDCO and other authorities have been stuck due to the same. We welcome this initiative taken by them. The central government of AAI which will now drive the development of the Navi Mumbai region at a faster pace.”
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Welcoming the decision, Abhishek Sharma, MD Shri Sai Group said, “It is a huge relief to all property developers. Projects have not been able to take off in the past several months due to this restriction. There have been significant delays in normal projects and likewise many projects have been disrupted. Redevelopment due to lack of clearance at height. Now with the removal of restrictions, certainty with respect to height is back.”
Also, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to shift Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) 1 to Dhakali Island, DPS Nerul in Navi Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on August 25, 2022 asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) whether the height restrictions for buildings adjacent to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport had been eased and directed the AAI to respond by August 29, 2022.
The panel of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Judge MS Karnik were hearing a public interest lawsuit filed by attorney Yashwant Shinui raising concerns about the dangers posed by tall buildings near Mumbai airport.
“The AAI shall inform whether any permit or NOC has been granted so far for any application submitted by a developer to construct a building above the permitted height limit of 55.1 metres. It shall also submit the number of pending applications for approval.”