MUMBAI: The BMC standing committee has approved an amnesty scheme to issue occupation certificates (OCs) for buildings where families reside but lack these documents. Just under two weeks ago, the committee members requested a review of the scheme.
On June 25, the committee called for clearer guidelines, accountability for developers and architects, and the inclusion of corporators’ feedback prior to endorsing the proposal.
The proposal, originally presented in April, faced delays due to concerns over a clause limiting eligibility to housing units up to 80 sq m (860 sq ft). BJP Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar highlighted that ordinary Mumbaikars have endured hardships due to certain builders and architects’ negligence. Without OCs, residents have encountered various penalties, challenges in redevelopments, and other issues, with many buildings now falling into disrepair.
Prabhakar Shinde, chairman of the standing committee, stated that the revised draft incorporating corporators’ suggestions had been sent to the state government on April 15. He affirmed that the proposed suggestions were made with citizens’ interests in mind. However, he questioned whether relief should be delayed until those suggestions are actualized.
Shinde pointed out that directions to implement the amnesty scheme were initially given on December 11, 2025, and many families have been waiting for this proposal. Approving it now would provide much-needed support to middle-class and marginalized families living in homes of up to 80 sq m. He remains optimistic that the state government will respond favorably to the draft, stressing the urgency of passing the proposal to assist Mumbai residents without further holdup.
Corporator Makarand Narwekar remarked that every Mumbaikar residing in buildings without OCs has been anticipating an amnesty scheme to officially validate their homes. He clarified that such a scheme is not a law and cannot supersede Development Control Regulations (DCR) or the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, alleviating concerns that dilapidated buildings or those failing fire safety checks would automatically obtain OCs.
In December 2025, the state urban development department directed the BMC to enact an OC amnesty scheme, extending eligibility from March 25, 1991, to buildings occupied before November 17, 2016. Under this scheme, only buildings with approved plans and valid Intimations of Disapproval (IODs) and Commencement Certificates (CCs) will qualify. This includes residential buildings, hospitals, and schools occupied before the cutoff date. However, residential properties will be capped at 80 sq m of carpet area.
The scheme allows cooperative housing societies, developers, and, in certain instances, individual homeowners to apply for OCs using registered architects or licensed surveyors. Applicants must provide proof of occupancy prior to the cutoff date through property tax records, electricity bills, or other official documents. It is important to note that the scheme doesn’t legalize unauthorized constructions but instead issues OCs for approved segments of buildings that are lacking OCs due to procedural or compliance issues.
