While on one hand the BMC, in its proposed Development Control Rules, has given benefits to the Island city, there is not much for the Suburbs to be happy about
While on one hand the BMC, in its proposed Development Control Rules, has given benefits to the Island city, there is not much for the Suburbs to be happy about. The DCR suggests that TDR of 0.67 be allowed to be used in Island city, which already has an FSI of 1.33 thus taking the total to 2, while Suburbs had an existing FSI of 1 and could use TDR of 1 thus making it to total of 2.
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TDR, which is Transfer of Development Rights, is like FSI, which enables the builder to take the height further vertical of the building. Earlier, TDR couldn't be used in Island city; this new change will allow them to do it. A lot of emphasis has been put on affordable housing, even Salt Pan lands have been opened and even No Development Zones have been opened for it, with an FSI of 3. The commercial FSI has been hiked to 5.
In the earlier DP, the FSI was Transit Oriented Development, FSI between 5 to 8 was allowed to plots closer to stations and others. This has been completely dropped and unanimity of FSI 2 has been brought in.
Apart from this, the FSI for MHADA, has been hiked to 4 from the prevalent FSI of 2.5-3. Also, for all hotels, the FSI will be of 5, which varies between 3 to 5 depending upon the star of the hotel.
BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, claimed that giving advantage to 5-stars over budget hotels was a lopsided view hence this uniformity in his proposed DP. The BMC’s earlier proposed DP had received a lot of flak from the common public for giving away whole of Aarey Colony, hence in this DP only 30 hectares of land in Aarey, for Metro carshed is reserved, provided if government plans to have it in Aarey.
The most part of the DP was centric to the Affordable Housing Sector, for it the Municipal Corporation has opened, a total of 3000 hectares across Mumbai, this includes, 2,100 hectares of No Development Zone, 260 hectares of Salt Pan land and other areas. Anybody on his land constructing Affordable Housing will get an FSI of 3 of which the owner shall get to retain 34 per cent of himself, while he will have to construct 33 per cent of affordable housing, and remaining 33 per cent shall be for public open spaces. A total of 1 million affordable homes is what BMC is expecting through this DP, which is meant for a period of 20-years.
The 33 per cent in the total affordable housing will include 30 square meter homes that will be 35 per cent of the total, another 35 per cent of 40 square meters and remaining 30 per cent will be for houses measuring 60 per cent. The 30 square meter homes will be linked to Modi’s ambitious Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna.
Behind the hiking of commercial FSI to 5, the commissioner claimed it’s the need, as Mumbai is a commercial capital and for that offices have to be there, hence this encouragement.
The additional 0.67 TDR for Island city can also be FSI that the owner can buy from BMC via paying a premium. This will enable the BMC to earn its revenue. The BMC has equated the FSI to 2 for all over city, citing that this is the FSI needed to meet the demand of the city.
Meanwhile, BMC commissioner has also made the provision of allowing helipads above building terraces surpassing the height of 200 meters. The BMC via this DP is aiming to add an additional area of 14.96 square kilometre, of open spaces, and nullahs are also counted as public open spaces.
Ambitious plan
The BMC has an ambitious plan of reclaiming Cuffe Parade and creating 300 acres Central Park. This will bring a full stop to the demand of Sena, which for a long time has been eyeing the Mahalaxmi Race Course to convert it into a park.