By Arosh John | Founder – John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835) | Editor-in-Chief – Thane Real Estate News (TREN)
Mumbai | October 2025
Maharashtra has revised the procedures under DCPR 2034, allowing the BMC Municipal Commissioner to approve buildings up to 180 metres in height without submitting proposals to the High-Rise Committee (HRC) — provided specific technical and safety criteria are met. This move is expected to accelerate the redevelopment of society and cluster projects, especially in the 120–150 metre tower category, where many proposals have faced procedural delays.
What Has Changed Under the New Approval Rule?
- The BMC Commissioner can directly approve buildings up to 180m.
- The plot must be 2,000 sq. m or larger.
- Developers must submit structural and geotechnical certifications from recognised institutes such as IIT Bombay, VJTI or Sardar Patel College of Engineering.
- Projects above 180m, or where the slenderness ratio (height-to-width) exceeds 9, will continue under High-Rise Committee review.
Earlier vs Now — Simplified Comparison
| Earlier (Old Rule) | Now (Updated Rule) |
|---|---|
| Any tower above 120m required mandatory High-Rise Committee clearance, leading to delays. | Towers up to 180m can be approved by the Municipal Commissioner with certified reports. |
| Multi-agency review often caused 6–12 month delays. | Faster, single-window pathway for qualified redevelopment projects. |
| Impacted IOD–CC timelines and delayed housing delivery. | Improved predictability and execution speed for societies and developers. |
Why Was This Change Introduced?
- A large number of redevelopment proposals in the 120–150m band were stalled, awaiting HRC scheduling.
- Delays impacted funding, demolition timelines, and construction commencement.
- The state aims to accelerate redevelopment, bring ageing structures up to modern standards, and streamline approval processes — while maintaining safety integrity through certified documentation.
Impact on Redevelopment and Society Projects
This update benefits:
- Society and cluster redevelopment proposals planned in the 120–180m height range.
- SRA and amalgamated plot projects where the land size exceeds 2,000 sq. m.
- Developers who maintain strong technical documentation and certification readiness, enabling faster movement from IOD to CC.
Faster approval enables quicker transitions, improved funding confidence, and earlier project launches, reducing uncertainty for both developers and society members.
Does This Compromise on Fire Safety?
No — safety norms remain fully intact.
While the approval route has been streamlined, fire-life safety standards remain mandatory, especially for towers above 90 metres, where external firefighting reach is limited.
Mandatory Fire Safety Systems Include:
- Refuge floors at regulated levels
- Pressurised fire escape staircases
- Wet risers and automatic sprinkler networks
- Smoke management systems and a fire command centre
- Certified maintenance protocols before the Occupancy Certificate
The policy speeds up the approval process, not the safety inspection standards.
Will Property Prices Increase Due to This?
- This is a procedural reform, not an FSI increase.
- Prices may not increase, but project delivery timelines will tighten, improving buyer and society confidence.
- Societies opting for redevelopment gain clarity and structured approval timelines, which enhances decision-making.
Expert Outlook — Speed with Accountability
With this reform, the approval process for redevelopment projects — especially in the mid- to high-rise category — is expected to become more streamlined and efficient.
This is a practical move to reduce approval friction, particularly in Mumbai’s housing renewal corridors, where redevelopment towers commonly fall in the 120–180m range.
The real impact will depend on implementation efficiency, audit discipline, and compliance readiness across proposals.
About the Author
Arosh John is a leading Thane real estate expert and Founder of John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835), established in 2014 with a focus on premium resale transactions, villa assets, NRI advisory and infrastructure-linked market analysis across Thane–MMR.
As Editor-in-Chief of Thane Real Estate News (TREN), he publishes high-clarity market insights, policy breakdowns and infrastructure impact reports — positioning TREN as an emerging authority for real estate knowledge in the region. With over a decade of on-ground transaction expertise and a deep understanding of Thane’s evolving property corridors, he is recognised for delivering data-backed guidance to homebuyers, investors and asset owners.
Disclaimer
This article summarises the currently notified procedural update under DCPR 2034, based on official communication released by the Urban Development Department and BMC. Final approvals may vary depending on structural design, certification quality and plot configuration. Readers are advised to refer to official government circulars and consult qualified legal or technical professionals for project-specific clarity. All institutional references and names belong to their respective authorities.
