To boost public spaces, BMC plans marketing push for DP incentives

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is donning the marketing hat for better implementation of the Development Plan (DP) 2034. The civic body will soon undertake “Relationship Marketing” for pushing its accommodation reservation policy to land owners in the city.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is donning the marketing hat for better implementation of the Development Plan (DP) 2034. The civic body will soon undertake “Relationship Marketing” for pushing its accommodation reservation policy to land owners in the city.

Apart from incentive floor space index (FSI), the construction cost incurred by the owner will also be compensated adequately under the new policy. FSI is the ratio of the building size to the plot siz (HT Photo)

The policy is where land owners whose plots are reserved for public amenities are compensated for developing their land for public use.

With the current policy, the civic body has sweetened the deal for land owners or housing societies. They will be compensated with additional construction rights than normally permissible if they develop the land and hand it over to public use.

Apart from incentive floor space index (FSI), the construction cost incurred by the owner will also be compensated adequately under the new policy. FSI is the ratio of the building size to the plot size.

It is to take these positives forward, that BMC will be undertaking the concept of Relationship Marketing, said Ramanath Jha, officer-on-special-duty, who has undertaken the DP revision process.

“There will be many who will be aware of the broader framework of the policy, but we think it is better to reach out to the land owners and explain the policy in detail. Mumbai’s quality of life depends on this land acquisition, so we have to build a partnership between BMC and land owners,” Jha said.

The ideas were discussed in the municipal commissioner’s monthly meeting last week. The team has to first list the plots that fall under the reservation, then connect with the land owners to explain the benefits.

The initiative will be undertaken mostly by the 24 urban planners appointed by BMC for each ward in the city, after the 20-year-blueprint is sanctioned.

BMC has undertaken pre-planning measures for better implementation of DP 2034. While only 33% of the DP 1991 was implemented, BMC managed to implement only 18% of the DP 1964. The accommodation reservation policy has been given utmost importance in the BMC’s plans for acquiring land for developing public amenities.