Big Relief for Mumbai Residents as BMC Clears OC Amnesty Scheme for Buildings Without Occupation Certificates
Mumbai, July 8, 2026: Thousands of Mumbai residents living in buildings without an Occupation Certificate (OC) may soon get relief as the BMC Standing Committee has approved the much-awaited OC Amnesty Scheme to help eligible buildings become regularised.
The proposal, cleared on Wednesday, aims to provide a legal pathway for occupied buildings that have been facing difficulties in obtaining OCs due to technical issues, administrative delays, or problems caused by developers.
Under the scheme, residential flats measuring up to 80 square metres (around 816 sq ft) that were constructed and occupied between 1991 and November 17, 2016, will be eligible for regularisation. The policy will also cover certain schools and hospitals as per directions from the state’s Urban Development Department (UDD).
The scheme will come into effect after the final approval from the BMC Corporation and the release of detailed implementation guidelines. Once the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is issued, eligible residents will be able to apply for regularisation.
Relief for Residents Facing Developer Issues
The move is expected to benefit residents who have been suffering despite no fault of their own. Many buildings have remained without OCs because of issues such as builders disappearing, incomplete paperwork, or delays from authorities.
BMC officials said the scheme is designed to help genuine residents and buildings that already have the required permissions and approvals but are stuck due to procedural hurdles.
Earlier, the BMC had requested changes to the policy, including removing the 80 sq metre limit, extending benefits to more residential buildings, and including commercial properties. However, the Urban Development Department has not yet responded to these suggestions.
Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde said that further changes would be considered once the state government provides its response.
Opposition Raises Concerns
While the proposal received approval, opposition members questioned certain aspects of the scheme. They raised concerns about identifying eligible buildings, taking action against developers responsible for violations, and ensuring that builders who abandoned projects face consequences.
However, BJP group leader Ganesh Khankar clarified that the scheme would not mean ignoring safety rules. He said buildings would receive OCs only after meeting mandatory requirements, including necessary approvals such as Fire NOCs.
He added that the aim is to ensure that residents who are eligible can benefit quickly once the policy is implemented.
Willington Heights Case Highlighted Need for Policy
The push for the OC Amnesty Scheme gained momentum after the Willington Heights case in Tardeo, where residents of the upper floors of the building were asked to vacate following a Bombay High Court order due to lack of complete OC.
The case highlighted the difficulties faced by residents living in high-rise buildings affected by technical issues and incomplete approvals.
Residents welcomed the new policy, saying it could provide relief to thousands of families across Mumbai. According to estimates, around 58,000 buildings in the city may benefit from the scheme.
The policy, originally announced by the state government in 2025, is expected to help a large number of Mumbaikars finally obtain regular status for their homes after years of uncertainty.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
