Modify rules on lofts, mezzanine floor, BMC told ……Sharad Vyas
Mumbai: The state government has realised that there has been little redevelopment of old cessed buildings even after allowing a hike in floor space index (FSI) from 2.5 to 4. To encourage tenants to go in for redevelopment, the state has now asked the BMC to modify development control rules to allow lofts and mezzanine floor area to be included while calculating FSI for a tenement.
Eleven years after its decision to regularise all unauthorised lofts and mezzanine floors built in the city up to August 15, 1997, a proposal for this new amendment will be tabled before the civic standing committee on Friday. If cleared, it will be applied to all cessed buildings owned by Mhada, BMC and private parties.
The move, officials believe, will act as an incentive for tenants and facilitate the redevelopment of about 19,000 old buildings in the island city. “Often, tenants don’t go for redevelopment when the developer refuses to compute mezzanine floor area under FSI on the grounds that such a move is either unauthorised or the rules prevent him from doing so. But the new amendment will change all that,’’ said a senior BMC official.
The state’s decision to regularise all unauthorised lofts and mezzanine floors built in the city up to August 15, 1997, drew a lot of criticism at the time. Even the guidelines distinguishing lofts from mezzanine floors were not clear.
BMC officials, however, insist that a lot has changed since then. For instance, previously, concrete lofts were considered as mezzanine floors. Now, only those lofts bearing a height of more than 5 ft is categorised by the BMC as a mezzanine floor. Anything under 5 ft is considered a loft. While lofts in most buildings are used as storage-cum-office, mezzanine floors, officials said, are being used for habitation purposes.
After the improvements committee approves of the proposal, the corporation will invite suggestions and objections from the public. Then, the state will finally clear the proposal under Section 37(II) of the DC regulations.