FSI hike will boost redevelopment of chawls, old buildings
Residents of Mumbai’s ubiquitous chawls may soon be able to live in self-contained flats measuring 300 sq ft each. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s decision to permit a floor space index (FSI) of 3 as against 2.5 for old and dilapidated buildings in the island city has removed the final hurdle in the redevelopment of chawls.
Builders had stopped the redevelopment on the grounds that the compulsory provision of bigger flats was eating into their share of the incentive FSI. In case of individual buildings like those in Dadar’s Hindu Colony where each flat is spread over at least 1,000 sq ft, the law permits only 750 sq ft to residents after redevelopment. “As a result, residents refused to go in for redevelopment. Builders’ had to give a portion of their incentive FSI so that residents could get a similar-sized flat in the redeveloped building,’’ said an industry observer. “This made redevelopment economically unviable.”
The proposal was earlier cleared by former chief minister Ashok Chavan just days before his ouster. After taking over as Maharashtra’s chief minister, Prithviraj Chavan stayed all the decisions taken during his predecessor’s last days in office. He, however, cleared the file on Monday, albeit with a few riders.
The chief minister, said officials, was insistent that there be an increase in Mhada’s share of the housing stock from the surplus FSI that is to be split between the private developer and the housing authority. He has also sought change in norms to provide off-site infrastructure, like marginal open spaces (open spaces on the rear and the sides of the building), and roads. Chavan has asked authorities to draft fresh guidelines to meet these results. While his predecessor had suggested this move, Chavan has endorsed it. “This is clearly to encourage cluster redevelopment rather than that of a single building. Cluster redevelopment will help create better civic infrastructure,’’ said an official.
Ajit Khatri, president of The Practicing Engineers, Architects, and Town Planners Association, said the additional FSI, along with the relaxation in Coastal Regulation Zone norms, will boost redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings. Chavan also cleared a proposal extending FSI benefits to all cessed and dilapidated buildings in the island city that were constructed prior to 1969. The benefits were previously available only to pre-1940 cessed properties.
Amin Patel, an MLA from Mumbadevi, welcomed the decision. This will benefit over 6,000 old buildings in his constituency.
Builders had stopped the redevelopment on the grounds that the compulsory provision of bigger flats was eating into their share of the incentive FSI. In case of individual buildings like those in Dadar’s Hindu Colony where each flat is spread over at least 1,000 sq ft, the law permits only 750 sq ft to residents after redevelopment. “As a result, residents refused to go in for redevelopment. Builders’ had to give a portion of their incentive FSI so that residents could get a similar-sized flat in the redeveloped building,’’ said an industry observer. “This made redevelopment economically unviable.”
The proposal was earlier cleared by former chief minister Ashok Chavan just days before his ouster. After taking over as Maharashtra’s chief minister, Prithviraj Chavan stayed all the decisions taken during his predecessor’s last days in office. He, however, cleared the file on Monday, albeit with a few riders.
The chief minister, said officials, was insistent that there be an increase in Mhada’s share of the housing stock from the surplus FSI that is to be split between the private developer and the housing authority. He has also sought change in norms to provide off-site infrastructure, like marginal open spaces (open spaces on the rear and the sides of the building), and roads. Chavan has asked authorities to draft fresh guidelines to meet these results. While his predecessor had suggested this move, Chavan has endorsed it. “This is clearly to encourage cluster redevelopment rather than that of a single building. Cluster redevelopment will help create better civic infrastructure,’’ said an official.
Ajit Khatri, president of The Practicing Engineers, Architects, and Town Planners Association, said the additional FSI, along with the relaxation in Coastal Regulation Zone norms, will boost redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings. Chavan also cleared a proposal extending FSI benefits to all cessed and dilapidated buildings in the island city that were constructed prior to 1969. The benefits were previously available only to pre-1940 cessed properties.
Amin Patel, an MLA from Mumbadevi, welcomed the decision. This will benefit over 6,000 old buildings in his constituency.
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