Doctors, it’s ok to run a clinic in your basement

Professionals in the city would now be allowed to use the basements of their residential properties for commercial activity. On Monday, MCD got a green signal to start regularising such properties, reports Neelam Pandey.

Professionals in the city would now be allowed to use the basements of their residential properties for commercial activity. On Monday, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) got a green signal to start regularising such properties.

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The Capital’s Master Plan 2021 actually permits such use of basements, but MCD had not been clearing applications, as Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had not notified the conversion charges. Consequently, professionals like architects, doctors and lawyers, who were carrying on their business from residential basements, were under the constant threat of sealing and demolition.

With DDA notifying the new conversion rates that have been approved by the government, MCD would start the process of clearing all such applications along with regularising the hitherto ‘unauthorised’ constructions that are permissible under the Master Plan.

New rates: MCD would now permit property owners to use basements for both professional and commercial purposes. For instance, in posh colonies under categories A and B, residents would have to pay Rs 4,375 per square metre for conversion.

“The applicant would also have to pay the usual mixed land use charges in addition to floor area ratio (FAR) charges,” said Vijendra Gupta, Chairman of the MCD’s standing committee.

End of industrial era?

Even property owners in industrial areas can now use their land for carrying out commercial activity, such as running banquet halls. Conversion charges for change of land use from industrial to commercial in Central and South Delhi and Dwarka would be Rs 31,270 per square metre while the rate in North, East and West Delhi, besides Rohini, would be Rs 20,242 per square metre.