Vasai-Virar halts extra construction in 80 redevelopment projects over FSI breach

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Developers and homebuyers in Vasai-Virar are facing growing uncertainty after the municipal corporation began re-examining construction permissions granted in the name of redevelopment. A re-verification by the civic body found that more than 80 redevelopment projects approved between 2022 and 2025 had been sanctioned more FSI than the permitted limit.

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Following the finding, additional construction underway at these projects has been stopped immediately. The registration of documents related to the sale and purchase of flats and shops in these projects has also been halted. The civic body is now awaiting guidance from the state government on whether these projects can be granted an occupation certificate (OC).

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After the UDCPR rules came into force in 2020, redevelopment of old and dangerous buildings in the city got a major push. But questions began to be raised over whether various exemptions, incentive FSI and approvals for increased construction area granted during redevelopment followed the rules. This led to the re-verification of the related files.

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The inquiry found that the sanctioned construction area in more than 80 projects exceeded the permitted limit. Questions are also being raised over whether the issue will remain confined to these 80 projects, since the town planning department is continuing to examine other redevelopment files. The number of such projects could rise further once the inquiry is complete.

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If the re-verification proves that approvals were granted in violation of rules, the earlier construction permission for some projects could be cancelled, and developers could be asked to obtain fresh construction permission, or CC, again. The further legal and administrative status of these projects will become clear only after hearings and guidance from the government. Meanwhile, citizens who have bought homes or shops in these projects face several unanswered questions: whether the project will get a final OC, whether the sanctioned construction will be held valid, and what further administrative action will follow, even though document registration has already taken place. The municipal corporation has appealed to citizens to exercise particular caution regarding any new financial transaction or sale-purchase in these projects until a final decision is made.

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With questions raised over the extra FSI approvals, whether these projects can be granted an OC has become a key question. The municipal corporation has sought guidance from the state government on this. The ban on additional construction at these projects will continue until the government's decision comes. The civic body has begun hearings to give developers an opportunity to present their case, in which a technical examination will be carried out of how much construction has actually taken place, what the sanctioned area is, and how much area has actually been used.

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The background of Enforcement Directorate action is also being discussed in this case. Complaints had earlier been made about extra FSI being sanctioned for redevelopment projects during the tenure of former commissioner Anilkumar Pawar, who served as administrator of the municipal corporation from 2022 to 2025, and Y. S. Reddy, who was deputy director of town planning at the time. The ED had taken action against both officials in a construction irregularities case, which is why the re-verification of town planning department files from this period holds particular significance.

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This includes more than half the files of one architect, against whom the ED has also taken action. In addition, all architects who have come under ED action, including this architect, have been re-examined by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

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