Commercial hub idea poses challenge

Mumbai: A Mumbai Development Plan 2034 (DP) proposal to develop commercial hubs in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and the suburbs will prove to be a huge challenge though up to 5 FSI will be allowed for commercial and industrial purposes.

This is because only mill lands and a few south Mumbai areas have currently been developed as commercial centres.

Meanwhile, the government has failed for the past three years to implement the plan for Economic Growth Centres. The state and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have set a target in the DP to provide infrastructure to create 80 lakh jobs in the city as it is the nation’s commercial capital. Most commercial centres are located in south Mumbai, BKC and in  cotton mill compounds at Lower Parel and Elphinstone.

The new proposals in the DP allowing 3 FSI including TDR (transferable development rights) and Premium FSI in the city area undermine the earlier policy of decongesting south Mumbai. Town planners and senior officials now fear that commercial hubs or activities may get more concentrated in south Mumbai. This will defeat planning towards reducing the distance between people’s workplace and home. Though 35 per cent of commercial FSI can be utilised for the residential purpose, housing rates are likely to remain out of reach of the common man.