Relief for people in old buildings in suburbs

Thousands of privately-owned structures in the suburbs are set to benefit from the new amendment in the Development Control Regulations 33 (7) that would give additional Floor Space Index (FSI) to developers for the redevelopment of old buildings in the suburbs. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who announced a new housing policy on Friday, has thus brought relief to the citizens in the suburbs.

According to the amendment, under DCR 33(7 A), developers redeveloping projects in the suburbs would now get 50 per cent incentive in terms of FSI against the existing FSI of 2.5.

FSI is the ratio of a building’s total floor area to the size of the piece of land upon which it is built. Currently, the base FSI, or the permissible amount for construction on a plot of land, is 1.33 for the island city between Cuffe Parade and Mahim. For the suburbs — starting from Bandra and stretching till Virar on the western side, Sion and Thane — the base FSI is 1.

With the introduction of separate DCR 33(7A), old buildings that are going in for redevelopment would get the same benefits as in the island city, i.e. from Cuffe Parade to Mahim.

Mr Fadnavis said, “By extending the policy of giving incentive in terms of FSI to developers in the suburbs, residents who live in old dilapidated buildings in the suburbs would be benefited.”

The CM added, “The slum clusters near the airport would also be redeveloped on the same plot and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given permission for the same. In situ redevelopment on the same spot is expected to benefit around 50,000 families residing in the slums near the airport.”