Mumbai: BMC Issues SOP For OC Amnesty Scheme, Around 20,000 Buildings Likely To Benefit

Mumbai, September 8, 2026: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an official Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for its OC Amnesty Scheme, which is expected to benefit around 20,000 buildings across the city. The scheme is set to apply to residential, school, and hospital buildings that were occupied before November 17, 2016, with a carpet area of up to 80 sq mt and have been granted IOD/amendment plans and development/construction permission by the BMC but have not received an Occupancy Certificate (OC).

Interested parties must submit their applications online through the AutoDCR system on the BMC's official website. Only architects or licensed surveyors are permitted to make these applications. It is important to note that the scheme does not cover buildings that require OC from other authorities, such as the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) or the State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (SRA).

The OC Amnesty Scheme received final approval from the BMC general body last month. The BJP had initially proposed to introduce the "OC for All" policy, requesting the removal of the 80 sq mt carpet area limit and the inclusion of commercial buildings. However, the civic standing committee passed the scheme in July, pending further responses from the state urban development department.

The scheme aims to help the weaker sections and middle-income group residents who lack OC due to factors beyond their control, such as absentee builders or administrative delays. However, experts have raised concerns that the scheme might benefit builders more than the residents themselves. They argue that builders may use the scheme to their advantage, imposing penalties on residents and avoiding legal consequences.