The Maharashtra government has announced a revised occupancy certificate (OC) amnesty scheme aimed at resolving long-standing issues faced by residents of nearly 20,000 buildings in Mumbai that have remained uncertified due to minor plan deviations. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde outlined the decision in the state assembly during its winter session in Nagpur earlier this week.
Shinde, who oversees the urban development and housing portfolios, stated that more than 10 lakh residents have endured legal and financial difficulties for years because their buildings lacked an OC. Many have been paying double property tax, water charges and sewerage tax, despite their buildings being structurally occupied and operational. The revised scheme is expected to directly support around 2.5 lakh families.
An occupancy certificate, issued by municipal authorities, serves as a legal confirmation that a building has been developed according to approved plans and is safe for occupation. Without it, residents encounter challenges ranging from loan restrictions to lower resale values. Shinde maintained that the new scheme would remove these barriers by stopping the imposition of double taxes and simplifying access to home loans, thereby improving the property resale market.
The scheme further proposes allowing residents to claim their full entitlement during redevelopment procedures. Applications submitted within the first six months of the scheme's rollout will not attract penalties, while those filed between six months and one year will incur a penalty equivalent to 50 per cent of the applicable rate. Additionally, proposals seeking regularisation will receive a 50 per cent concession on premiums for additional or fungible built-up area, based on ready reckoner rates.
Shinde added that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had been instructed to create a dedicated mechanism enabling individual flat owners to obtain an OC independently, if required. The revised scheme will also extend its benefits to hospitals and schools that fall under unauthorised structures, offering operational relief to institutions in the health and education sectors.
He further noted that the government intended to extend similar policies to other municipal corporations across the state and had directed the urban development department to prepare a detailed framework for broader implementation.
