The Times of India      18.03.2016 

Civic body encourages builders to take up slum devpt under SRA

Aurangabad: Following the footsteps of the civic bodies in Pune and Mumbai, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has started encouraging builders to take up the city's identified slums for development.

In a meeting with the representatives of a builders' body on Thursday, mayor Trimbak Tupe asked them to submit area development proposals under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). The general body recently passed a proposal of setting up an authority for development of various slums in the city in association with private players.

"We are also creating a conducive atmosphere for the scheme's implementation in Aurangabad. The civic body is looking forward to active participation from the local builders," Tupe said.

Accepting the proposal, S H Patil, president of city unit of Credai, said many builders are eager to adopt the scheme. "There is huge scope for development in the city as there are more than 50 declared slums. Most of them are strategically located where vertical development could bring a sea change," he said.

Under the scheme, the municipal authorities are looking at rehabilitation of slum dwellers in association with private developers and builders using land as a resource. The government has allowed increased floor space index (FSI) in the localities that would attract developers as well as builders.