Residential societies and housing projects in Mumbai will now be able to allocate more space for fitness, wellness and recreational amenities without affecting their permissible Floor Space Index (FSI), following a key amendment to the state’s development rules.
The Maharashtra government’s Urban Development Department has revised the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034, increasing the FSI-free allowance for such facilities from 2% to 4% of a project’s total built-up area. The updated provision applies to residential buildings, housing societies and select commercial developments.
Under the revised framework, spaces used for gyms, yoga centres, meditation rooms, fitness studios and recreational activity zones will not be counted within the FSI limit, up to the newly defined cap. This effectively allows developers and societies to plan larger common wellness infrastructure without reducing saleable carpet area.
Previously, only basic facilities such as gyms and yoga rooms qualified for FSI exemption, and the permissible limit was capped at 2%. Developers, architects and housing societies had been pushing for an increase, especially in large-scale residential and redevelopment projects where resident density is significantly higher and existing amenities often fall short.
Officials said the change was introduced after multiple representations from stakeholders in the real estate and urban planning sectors, who highlighted the growing demand for dedicated indoor wellness spaces within housing complexes. In several older developments, residents reportedly rely on makeshift or insufficient spaces for fitness and recreation activities due to design limitations.
The revised rules also expand the definition of eligible amenities to include meditation spaces and broader recreational zones. At the same time, authorities have introduced minimum area norms to ensure that these facilities are genuinely usable and not created merely for regulatory compliance benefits.
The amendment has been notified under Regulations 31(1)(xvii) and 37(28) of the DCPR 2034 in line with the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966.
Urban planners view the move as aligned with post-pandemic housing preferences, where health, wellness and community living have become central priorities. The decision is expected to benefit both new housing projects and ongoing redevelopment schemes, particularly in space-constrained suburban clusters where creating large common amenities has been challenging.
Real estate experts believe the change will also support self-redevelopment initiatives by housing societies, as residents increasingly seek better lifestyle infrastructure along with upgraded homes and integrated community facilities.
Source: Prop News Time
