Builders, locals hail Mumbai civic body’s move on revamp of buildings near airport
Last month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) offered builders a solution on the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
After the civic body came up with a solution for the redevelopment of residential buildings in the zone of flight movements — funnel zone — without compromising on aviation safety, residents and developers have welcomed the move, calling it a win- win situation. Last month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) offered builders a solution on the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) that will allow buildings to be redeveloped under the sanctioned floor space index (FSI) in the funnel area, and using the remaining FSI under the ready reckoner rate in a different area.
“The BMC has included a special category for the development of ‘funnel zone’ buildings which will make redevelopment financially feasible to both developers, and for the nearly 3.6 lakh residents in areas like Vile Parle, Santacruz, Ghatkopar and Kurla,” said real estate developer Rajeev Jain, also director of Nirmal Lifestyle in a statement.
He added, “The newly introduced TDR will be instrumental in attracting builders towards taking up such projects. Initially, the developers’ resistance was because the FSI available for redevelopment in these areas couldn’t be fully used owing to height constraints levied by the Airport Authority of India. However, with the prospect of TDR, it will now be used at an alternate location provided by the Government.”
Around 10 days ago, advocate Yashwant Shenoy, who had moved the Bombay high court to restrict the height of buildings in the funnel zone, had written to BMC chief Ajoy Mehta objecting to the aeronautical survey, which was to be conducted by the civic body to get clarity on the maximum height of buildings, following which approvals would be granted to developers.
On the civic body’s solution to maintain the permitted FSI, Shenoy said, “I have no problem with their idea so long as aviation security is not being compromised.”
Manojav Karandalkar, a resident from Vile Parle, said, “The solution provided by officials appears to be a win-win situation for both developers and us. However, we should be provided with detailed information on the implementation of the decision.”
The BMC on July 31 included a proposal for redevelopment of old buildings falling in the approach path of the aircrafts in its 2014-2034 Development Plan (DP) . This was done so that buildings under this zone can be redeveloped without violation of norms, and simultaneously workable for developers. The DP draft was cleared in the BMC’s general body meeting. Final changes will be made after the state government approves the BMC’s offer. The Airports Authority of India has certain height restrictions on buildings under the funnel zone. But since the developers could not use all the FSI, they refused to take up redevelopment projects.
The draft DP states that TDR will be given at the ready reckoner rate i.e. the builder after redeveloping a building in the funnel zone can make use of its remaining FSI in other areas on the current cost of the area of the redeveloped building.