**Mumbai Residents of Willingdon Heights Struggle to Obtain Occupancy Certificate Amid Parking Tower Demand**

The residents of the 34-storey Willingdon Heights (Willingdon View CHS) in Tardeo are facing a significant hurdle in obtaining the occupancy certificate (OC) for the top 17 floors of their building. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has mandated the construction of a parking tower to accommodate 40 additional cars, citing it as a prerequisite for granting the OC.

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### Parking Space Crunch: A Key Issue

Willingdon Heights comprises a total of 62 flats but currently has only 49 parking spaces. Following a Bombay High Court order, residents vacated the top floors on August 27 and are now struggling to meet the civic body’s norms related to parking.

The BMC has invoked the building’s usage of additional floor space index (FSI), stating that this increases the need for “sufficient parking space” to comply with regulations.

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### Residents Resist Building Parking Tower

“When the BMC told us that we won’t get the OC without creating additional car parking, we were shocked. We tried to convince the officials that 89 parking spaces are not required for 62 flats. We will not build a parking tower. It is not only a humongous task but also requires crores, which will come out of our pockets,” said a resident who wished to remain anonymous.

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### BMC Holds Society Responsible

Sunil Rathod, BMC chief engineer of the building proposal department, explained, “The building has used extra FSI. According to the map, the society has an adjacent open space where a parking tower can be constructed. Without sufficient parking space, the OC cannot be granted.”

An official further added, “The developer has given deemed conveyance to the society and hence it is responsible for all proceedings towards obtaining the OC.”

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### Residents Pin Hopes on New OC Policy

There is a silver lining for the residents following the government’s announcement of a new OC policy last week. The society has applied for regularisation under the Development Control Regulations (DCR) 1991 instead of the 2034 norms.

“Our building is constructed as per the 1991 plan and, under the government’s amnesty scheme, we are hopeful for relief from the charges towards obtaining the OC. According to the new policy, the OC will be processed as per DCR 1991, so we won’t have to pay Rs 35 crore nor build any parking tower,” the resident added.

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### Penalties and Charges Adding to Residents’ Woes

Despite the hope, Rathod cautioned that the government has yet to issue a formal notification regarding the new OC policy, and further decisions will be taken accordingly.

Adding to the challenges, a penalty of Rs 5 crore has been imposed on the society for not complying with parking norms. Overall, the total charge towards regularisation of the building runs as high as Rs 35 crore.

Rathod remarked, “If Willingdon Heights fulfills the clauses under the new OC policy, a concession can be granted. However, currently, the charges and clauses towards regularisation remain in effect.”

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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-news-trouble-mounts-for-tardeos-willingdon-heights-residents-as-bmc-demands-parking-tower-for-oc