Good move to hike FSI in South Mumbai but infrastructure must improve

The proposed amendment to increase the FSI for redevelopment of buildings by 0.5 will help a lot of non-cessed buildings that get lesser FSI compared to the cessed ones. However, experts and architects, while predicting a boom in redevelopment, also caution that it may further congest the already congested South Mumbai. 

The notification, that came out on Monday from the Urban Development Department of the state, has proposed that the higher FSI of 0.5 be allowed to buildings with road width above 9 metres. The existing FSI in the area is 1.33 for all buildings, plus TDR up to 0.67 can be used depending on the road facing the building. The additional FSI of 0.5 would bring the minimum FSI in area to 2 and maximum to 2.5 for non-cessed buildings and other redevelopment projects, excluding cessed buildings. The FSI will be available at premium of 60 per cent of the Ready Reckoner rate. 

Ramesh Nair, CEO and Country Head, JLL, an international real estate consultancy firm, said, “The increase of FSI in Mumbai by 0.5 is a welcome move as it will allow the island city to grow vertically.  In the wake of the current paucity of land, Mumbai has been in crying need for such a relaxation to ensure adequate supply is created in the island city. FSI for Mumbai when compared to various other similarly profiled cities is rather low.”

However, Nair cautioned that along with the growth in FSI, the government has to step up efforts in building commensurate infrastructure including roads, water supply and power requirements.

Architect Arqam Shaikh of Arc Associate, a South Mumbai-based architecture firm that is into redevelopment, recollected that the basic aim of the DP 1991 was to decongest South Mumbai, and hence there was a cap on allowing the use of TDR here, while it was allowed in suburbs. “As a city planner, I am happy with the decision as it allows developers to meet the potential real estate demand in the area. However, seeing the current situation, I am worried as the roads are narrow, there’s not much emphasis on infrastructure. We should see to it that infrastructure grows too.”

The proposal of a planned increase in FSI in Mumbai will help the city transform itself, as many of the island city’s dilapidated structures will go into redevelopment, but infrastructure also needs to grow simultaneously.

STEADY GROWTH

• Existing FSI in area is 1.33 for all buildings, plus TDR up to 0.67 can be used depending on the road facing the building. 
   
• Additional FSI of 0.5 will bring minimum FSI in area to 2 and maximum to 2.5 for non-cessed buildings and other redevelopment projects, excluding cessed buildings
   
• FSI will be available at premium of 60 per cent of Ready Reckoner rate.