Due to the increased water crisis in metro politian cities like Chennai and Bengaluru, a part of Hyderabad’s real estate industry has come together to propose a change in the unlimited floor space index (FSI) norm, especially in the IT sector. According to this group, if the rules are not changed then the Hi-Tech City- Madhapur would soon be under the gridlock.
Water levels in Madhapur region has drastically fallen from approximately 10 metres to over 13 metres below the ground level. In a recent incident, motorists were stuk in traffic for five hours due to a bout in rainfall.
Among the other cities on India, Hyderabad is the only city that provides unlimited FSI whereas the standard norm ranges from 2 to 2.5. As a result of this, Hyderabad developers build as much as they wish on a piece of land. While builders in other cities cannot construct more than 2 to 2.5 lakh square feet (on an average) on a one acre land parcel leaving the remaining land as an open space, in Hyderabad these constructions can go up to a frightful of 10 lakh sft or more. This not only creates pressure on the ground, leaving very less space for water percolation but also narrows the roads resulting in mounting traffic.
Veera Babu, the managing director of Cushman & Wakefield (Hyderabad) voiced out her concern saying that, Bangalore with having a controlled FSI of 2.5 is facing water crisis and extensive traffic. Thus Hyderabad having unlimited FSI, the conditions such as traffic congestion, air pollution and dearth of open spaces are to be worsen in near future.
Even those in favor of unlimited FSI feel that it should be regulated at least in Hi- Tec City. According to one of the senior consultants, areas such as Shamshabad which doesn’t attract too much investment but still needs unlimited FSI though the IT corridor can do without it.