MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will soon launch an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered facility to fast-track approvals in the city’s real estate sector, in a move aimed at boosting ease of doing business and cutting delays in project clearances.Announcing the initiative at NAREDCO Maharashtra’s ‘Change of Guard’ event, municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the AI-led platform will integrate multiple civic approval systems into a single digital interface. “The introduction of this AI-led facility marks a significant step towards streamlining processes and enhancing transparency. We aim to reduce approval timelines and improve efficiency for stakeholders,” she said.The proposed system will allow developers, architects and consultants to submit and track applications in real time, while AI tools will be deployed for document verification, compliance checks and predictive analysis. Civic officials said the platform will also flag discrepancies and ensure adherence to development control regulations, reducing manual intervention and standardising procedures.Mayor Ritu Tawde said approvals for construction proposals are already being processed within 45 days due to end-to-end digitisation, adding that the civic body is working towards a more transparent and accountable system. She also pitched for inclusive urban growth, urging developers to support infrastructure such as women’s sanitation facilities.The move was welcomed by developers, who said faster approvals and clearer regulatory processes would help cut costs and ensure timely delivery of projects. The BMC is in the final stages of setting up the system and plans to roll it out in phases, along with training support for users.At the event, Kamlesh Thakur took over as president of NAREDCO Maharashtra from Prashant Sharma, outlining a focus on digitisation, policy advocacy and closer collaboration with the government. The body also launched a ‘NAREDCO ONE’ app to bring its members onto a unified digital platform.
