Mumbai FSI sops likely in other areas of MMR

In the city,higher FSIs are granted for schemes like redevelopment of old buildings in clusters and slum rehabilitation (SRA) projects. FSI incentives are also granted for parking lots in the space-starved city.

They may be replicated in other parts of the MMR,barring Navi Mumbai where a node-to-node development policy is in place.

The state government has set up a panel headed by principal secretary,urban development, TC Benjamin to look into the possibility of some provisions of Mumbai’s Development Control Regulations(DCR) being extended to other municipal corporations. Members on the panel include commissioner of MMRDA and the municipal commissioners of Thane,Virar-Vasai,Mira-Bhayander and Kalyan-Dombivli. Deputy director,town planning,is also a key member.

“Some provisions for housing,parking,slum redevelopment and urban renewal are followed in Mumbai DCR as of now. We are looking at extending them to other corporations; any increase in FSI would be entirely a function of the infrastructure,” said Benjamin.

He added that Navi Mumbai would be excluded as the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is developing it in a node-to-node manner.

Senior state government officials said the decision to extend the Mumbai DCR to the rest of MMR is in keeping with the fast development of these areas have been witnessing. “Thane has several old unauthorized constructions,gaothans and dilapidated buildings in need of redevelopment. The benefits available to redevelopment projects of MHADA,SRA or for creating parking spaces are not available in here,” said Thane Municipal Commissioner RA Rajeev.

DCR 33 of Mumbai allows extra FSI for educational and medical institutions,government buildings,IT Parks,starred category hotels and various residential projects like redevelopment of cessed buildings,clusters of old buildings and shanties. The rest of MMR does not enjoy these sops.

Sunil Mantri,president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) said “The MCHI has always held that the FSI in places outside Mumbai is extremely low. We have been requesting that incentives available for reconstruction of slums and old buildings in Mumbai be made applicable to the rest of the state too.”