Builders say plan takes away incentive for redevelopment

MUMBAI: Tenants of cessed, old and dilapidated buildings will have to be satisfied with 300 sq ft flats as 405 sq ft flats in redevelopment schemes will not be possible if the draft Development Plan 2014-2034 is accepted. The draft DP has scrapped the fungible floor space index (FSI) that allowed larger flats.
“The draft DP has put a cap on the FSI that will be available for redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings under 33(7) of the Development Control Regulations.Now staircase, lift and passage will be computed in the FSI. The maximum FSI will be between 3.5 and 5. The rehab component alone takes around 6-7 FSI since existing buildings have already consumed 4-5 FSI and tenants have to be given larger flats. As for the incentive FSI, the draft DP offers it in the form of transfer of development rights,” Sandeep Isore, a construction consultant, said.
On Saturday, some 40 developers met at a hotel in south Mumbai to draft their objections to the proposed DP and demand its scrapping.
Murtuza Ali of Alamdar Infrastructure said the draft DP offered no incentive for redevelopment, neither under 33(7) nor 33(9) for cluster redevelopment. “Parking is reduced, recreational facilities like swimming pool, club house, fitness centre which were free of FSI have now been counted in FSI,” he said.
The worst-affected will be tenants and developers who have signed and registered agreements for 405 sq feet flats, said builders. “The BMC is not issuing the commencement certificate,” Sabir Nirban, another developer, said. The reason for not issuing the certificate is reservations being imposed on various plots.
Ramesh Prabhu, convenor, Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association, said the draft DP links the building height to road width. “Unless the roads are widened the buildings cannot be redeveloped. But how does one remove people to first build a road? It’s a chicken and egg situation,” he said.