The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved a proposal to empanel geotechnical and foundation specialists who will independently review the foundation systems of high-rise buildings in Mumbai. The decision was cleared in January by the civic body’s High‑Rise Committee (HRC) and is considered a first-of-its-kind step by an urban local body in Asia.
Under the new rule, buildings taller than 180 metres will be required to obtain mandatory clearance from the HRC before key stages of construction proceed. The measure comes as Mumbai’s skyline continues to expand vertically, with several super-tall towers being planned on dense urban plots that often require deep excavation and complex foundation engineering.
Among the tallest projects shaping the skyline is Palais Royale, currently the tallest building under construction in the city at around 320 metres. Other prominent developments include Lokhandwala Minerva, Piramal Aranya Arav and Lodha World One, along with several upcoming proposals.
“This is a big step in ensuring the safety of building foundations. Our high-rise committee examines whether the foundation design is appropriate for the soil/rock conditions, whether excavation is being carried out safely, and whether adequate safeguards are in place to prevent damage to nearby buildings and underground utilities,” said Deepankar Choudhury from the civil engineering department at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, who is also a member of the BMC’s HRC and a geotechnical expert. “This includes reviewing soil/rock investigation reports, shoring systems, and other measures deployed during deep digging for basements and foundations.”
Earlier, such technical assessments were mainly reviewed and approved by structural engineers appointed by project developers during the building approval process.
However, several structural incidents involving foundation or shoring failures in recent years prompted the civic body to consider adding specialised oversight by independent geotechnical consultants responsible for reviewing foundation design.
Choudhury said the panel of geotechnical consultants will include experienced engineers from academic institutions and the private sector. They will provide an additional layer of scrutiny before construction progresses on projects involving deep foundations.
“With dense construction often taking place only metres away from existing buildings, excavation can pose significant risks if not carefully monitored,” he added.
Through this move, the BMC aims to improve safety standards in foundation construction for super-tall structures and reduce risks associated with deep excavation in crowded urban environments. Officials also believe the initiative could serve as a model for other cities facing similar challenges as vertical development accelerates.
Source: The Times of India
