The Maharashtra government has increased the floor space index (FSI), or the permissible development on a plot, to four times from three across the state for slum-rehabilitation projects, in line with existing guidelines for the country’s commercial capital, Mumbai.
The state government has revised the Unified Development Control Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) for the rest of the state to give effect to this increase in the FSI.
“In late 2019, the FSI for slum-rehabilitation projects in Mumbai was increased to four times from the earlier three, and now, after over two years, the same has been made applicable to other parts of Maharashtra,” said a senior state government official.
The move is expected to push projects involving slum rehabilitation in other parts of the state apart from Mumbai.
“With growing industrialisation and a population explosion, slums will continue to increase in volume and cause larger issues. The Maharashtra government has rightly identified this and its penetration beyond metro cities like Mumbai. The FSI policy to incentivise developers in other cities to come forward and take up slum redevelopment is a step in the right direction. This will be a big leap forward in housing for all and slum-free cities in Maharashtra,” said Gautam Thacker, president of real estate industry body Naredco’s Progressive Neral-Karjat unit.
According to Thacker, when combined with city beautification and pride in one’s place of residence, it would encourage more developers to come forward and undertake such development, as well as be a positive step toward a cleaner and safer city or town.
In a bid to strengthen and bring uniformity to real estate construction guidelines across the state, the government approved the UDCPR in December 2020. This uniform set of regulations will specify everything from the height of buildings to the width of roads and the size of amenity spaces.
The new rules are applicable to all municipal corporations, councils and nagar panchayats across the state, except Mumbai and some neighbouring areas like hill stations, eco-sensitive zones and specified corporation areas.
As per the UDPCR issued in December 2020, the density for slum rehabilitation projects to receive the FSI of three was set at 500 dwellings per 2.5 acres. This permissible density has now been increased to 650 dwellings per 2.5 acres, while increasing the FSI to four times from three.
Slum-rehabilitation authorities will have the flexibility to consider projects with an even lower density of 500 dwellings per 2.5 acres, to ensure more rehabilitation projects are undertaken and slum dwellers are accommodated in such developments.
For effective implementation of the projects, a separate authority is likely to be set up for eight metropolitan municipalities including Thane, Kalyan, Panvel, Vasai-Virar and Bhiwandi-Nizampur. Seven municipalities and councils, including Badlapur, Ambernath Alibag, Pen, Khopoli, Matheran and Karjat will also be made part of this separate authority.
