The regime change in Maharashtra seems to have ushered in the good days-- acche din-- for property developers. The new BJP-led government has decided to tweak the development rules to help the developers maximise their earnings, as well as get access to lands that were off-limits to development previously.

According to industry sources, earlier it was mandatory for developers to build affordable housing in 20% of the area of every plot they developed. As per the proposed rules, developers can construct affordable houses in a different plot provided it is in the same civic ward.

Besides, the developers will get an additional 1.5 to 2 floor space index (FSI) as an incentive for building affordable houses.

Construction in the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) will be allowed. Earlier, houses could be constructed only within 500 metres from the coast.

Housing expert Atul Nemade said, "If the developer is allowed to construct affordable houses in a different plot rather than the same plot then he will probably buy any tiny plot in that civic ward and construct shabby houses to hand over to the government. My hunch is that most of the developers will not even do that as well. They are not legally bound to do so. They may complete their projects and sell those off and forget to construct affordable houses."