Sunday, December 2, 2012

Township FSI hiked to boost economic hub

To encourage creation of new economic hubs, the state government has decided to make it mandatory for township projects to set aside up to one-fourth of the land for economic activity.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan recently approved a fresh policy for special township projects, which contains this provision of setting setting aside land for economic activity.
Special township projects are those where a developer is permitted to set up a township along with all necessary infrastructure and amenities in a composite plot spread across 40 hectares (around 100 acres).
The idea is to create employment opportunities for citizens near their residences, an official said. Besides improving the quality of life of citizens, the move will also enable decongestion of developed economic centers like Mumbai, the official added.
The government has categorized businesses centered around education, hospitality, healthcare, and entertainment, among other activities as economic activity. Townships spread across 40-100 hectares will have to set aside 15% of its area for such activity, those over 100-200 hectares will have to reserve 20% and those above 200 hectares 25%, a source said. Meanwhile, the fresh policy also aims at redesigning the skyline of townships by raising the floor space index (FSI). Depending on the size of the plot and its location, an FSI of 1.3-1.7 will be provided under the new policy. The same benefit ranged between 0.2 and 1 previously.
While allegations that the policy was being designed to benefit a couple of major developers who are developing townships in MMR, Chavan denied it. Claiming that the policy was aimed at promoting planned development, Chavan said that his government had studied existing policies implemented in Gujarat, AP, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh before taking a decision.
For developable areas in the MMR, the FSI available will range from 1.5 to 1.7. A maximum FSI of 1 was previously provided. It will be 1.5 for townships spread across 40-100 hectares (100 to 247 acres), 1.6 for 100-200 hectares and 1.7 for townships above 200 hectares.
Chavan however said that the government has imposed a fresh condition requiring developers to build small-sized house for economically weaker sections and low income groups on 20% area of the plot. To be handed over to Mhada after being constructed, Chavan said that these would boost affordable housing stock. The government will charge premium at ready reckoner value for the additional incentive FSI (excluding one used for public housing).
A state-appointed panel had recommended the hike in FSI to incentivize township projects arguing that the existing policies had failed to elicit desired response from developers. The panel also recommended doing away with multiple policies for townships. Chavan said that the government has accepted the panel's report. While different incentives were provided to urbanizable areas within and outside municipal limits, this has been withdrawn in the new regime.
No township will be permitted in ecologically sensitive zones. But, the government has hiked FSI for development of other 'green' zones existing alongside transport corridors. Existing townships where 20% area is yet to be developed could also avail the new policy, sources said. A notification will be issued this week. "We will invite suggestions and objections from the public," said Chavan. The FSI incentive for such projects was last hiked in 2008.

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