Unified Development Control and Promotions Regulations (UDCPR)

In 2020, the state government of Maharashtra decided to unify these rules and regulations across the state. This makes it easier to track developmental policies across all the city municipal corporations, the local councils and the Nagar Panchayats of the states. The Unified Development Control and Promotions Regulations (UDCPR) was introduced as a single set of policies that could be implemented across all the districts, helping urban planning officials to understand and implement them. Let us see how these uniform development rules in Maharashtra have been instrumental in sculpting the urban landscape of the state.

Application of the UDCPR

The Unified Development Control and Promotions Regulations introduced in 2020 are applicable to most cities and large towns in Maharashtra. Cities and towns, including Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Solapur, and Thane, are now administered in accordance with these regulations.

Mumbai remains the only major exception to these uniform development rules in Maharashtra. It is one of the largest and most populous cities in the country, and the organic development of Mumbai and its surrounding suburbs makes it subject to its own set of developmental policies.

Apart from all the areas under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, other exceptions include the land under the Mumbai Port Trust, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). While most of Navi Mumbai is covered by the unified regulations, the area under the Navi Mumbai Airport Notified Area (NAINA) is exempt. Some hill stations and eco-sensitive zones in the state have also been kept out of the purview of these regulations.

Implications of the UDCPR

The introduction of the unified development rules in Maharashtra has been a major boost to urban planning and development and real estate construction in the state.

Irrespective of the size of the city or the local government's budget, infrastructural development work across the state will be undertaken to meet the safety guidelines and standards set by the UDCPR. Similarly, private enterprises in smaller cities and towns will be required to meet the same standards as big cities.

Administratively, this has simplified the process of issuing various permits and certificates necessary before construction work commences. The state government has sought to encourage new public and private development work by eliminating the red tape and ambiguous policies.  

Updates and amendments

Towards the end of 2021, some of the regulations of the UDCPR were updated and amended to simplify development in cities like Pune, Thane, and Navi Mumbai. The Floor Space Index (FSI) requirement for old buildings and projects in some cities like Thane was relaxed. In some cases, a provision for loading an additional FSI has also been made. In cities like Navi Mumbai, special provisions have been made to amalgamate different plots and create societies. The heights of buildings across different cities and towns may vary depending on the width of the existing roads.

Conclusion

The introduction of the UDCPR has been welcomed by urban planners, developers, builders, and architects as a wonderful initiative that will help bring consistency and uniformity in the safety, amenities, and facilities available to homebuyers across the state. This new set of regulations has accounted for every aspect of residential development, including the provision of spaces for vents and balconies, parking and common spaces. At the same time, concessions have been made to accommodate the specific needs of some of the larger cities, but high benchmarks for construction and development have been set. The implementation of these new regulations is all set to transform Maharashtra’s cities into marvels of development, with high-rises dotting the cityscape.