Buildings will have to seek municipal corp’s approval

Mumbai: With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) changing the Development Control Rules (DCR) and allowing access to the terrace by lift, existing buildings including residential, commercial and industrial will have to seek necessary permission from the civic body to construct lifts up to the terrace, said civic officials.

A senior civic official said, “Buildings have to seek permission from the Building Proposal (BP) and Development Planning (DP) department. In case of existing buildings, prior certification regarding structural stability of the building will have to be submitted.

Precaution for safety and security will have to be ensured by the society/holder of the premises where the lift well opening is proposed on the terrace above the topmost storey.”

There are 35,643 lifts registered in Mumbai, although it is possible that there are unregistered lifts as well.

The area of the lift well for additional floor height of lift well opening onto the terrace may be allowed free floor space index (FSI) with special permission of the commissioner by charging a premium, the official added. As per BMC’s DCR, the lift is an alternate means of vertical access in addition to a staircase.

The civic body’s BP department had initiated a proposal of allowing lifts up to the terrace area of the building earlier this month. On Monday, BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta approved the proposal for allowing lifts reach up to the terrace of a building.