MUMBAI

Team Ultron
 Mega cities of the West,
Landlords have found it
convenient to let buildings rot
. The state has a duty to like New York or London,
because many provisions of ensure that people’s ‘roti, have their own
the Act are frankly kapda, makaan’ needs are independent local
Quality developments within met. The Bombay Rents, governance system to deal
implementable. At least 70
a more affordable budget
per cent of the tenants have
have given a boost to areas
Hotel and Lodging House with the unique challenges
to agree to alterations and Rates Control Act, 1947 they face. However, in
such as Thane to the north of
repair of the flats and move had created its fair share of India, the mandate of civic
Mumbai. Thane district has
out for at least 18 months. problems. These have not authorities is often
seen a 35.26% increase in
Few tenants would agree to
this. Even if there is a
population between 2001 and been solved to date by overlooked by the state
2011 against a national the Maharashtra Rent governments. As a result,
provision for a transit
average of 17.6% control act which replaced there is no clarity on who is
housing, tenants may still be
unwilling to move out it in 1999. in charge of the city’s
because of the costs and developing infrastructure.
inconvenience involved

In Mumbai, for example,

the Mumbai Metropolitan
In the areas in and around Region Development There should be a single
Greater Mumbai, a significant Authority was initially not umbrella authority
On an average a resident of
number of buildings have involved in building responsible for
Mumbai spends four hours a
been built without municipal
permissions, with
day commuting, either infrastructure for the city. infrastructure
crawling at five kms/hour on But now, along with local development. This will lead
substandard material and
the crater-ridden roads or municipal authorities, it is to better coordination,
without any consideration to
packed like sardines in the responsible for developing faster decision-making and
the required building codes.
local trains.
They are disasters waiting to the city’s infrastructure. greater accountability.
happen. This has made governance
chaotic and confusing.

The state will have to work with the municipal corporation, tenants, landlords and the housing industry to first
identify the buildings that urgently need repair and then provide for the necessary public and private financial
resources to do so.