[Jai]

State wants extra FSI for building revamp

21 May 07
HT Epaper

Ketaki Ghoge
Mumbai

THE MAHARASHTRA government will request the Bombay High Court to consider increasing the Floor Space Index (FSI) for reconstruction of old and dilapidated buildings in the city.

This was announced by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh while speaking at a function in South Central Mumbai on Sunday. He said the state would convince the high court as it was being difficult to redevelop the old buildings and rehabilitate the tenants.

The high court has restricted the FSI granted on redevelopment of such buildings to four. There are around 16,000 cessed structures in the island city alone. The state housing department feels granting more FSI would enable the developer of old buildings to give bigger tenements to the tenants and also get profit.

"The cap of 4 FSI is little bit unfair. It is affecting the redevelopment. We will present our view before the High Court to grant more FSI,"Deshmukh who himself heads the housing department said.

The redevelopment of old buildings in Mumbai is a major issue in state's proposed housing policy. The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) is surveying similar properties in the suburbs.

"The government will request the high court to set up a committee to suggest more FSI for dilapidated buildings," said Deshmukh. The increased FSI is also likely to attract more developers, who may not consider this as a viable option now. The state government is also mulling over the option of allowing cluster development of old buildings. "The developers will be asked to go in for development of cluster of 3-4 buildings," Deshmukh said.

ketaki.ghoge@ hindustantimes.com