The Maharashtra government is considering a proposal to make redevelopment of thousands of ageing buildings in the Mumbai airport funnel zone more financially viable by allowing developers to club unused Floor Space Index (FSI) with another project.
Buildings located within the flight path of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) face height restrictions, which can prevent developers from utilising the full construction potential otherwise available under approved FSI norms. The issue particularly affects parts of Vile Parle, Santacruz, Kurla and other airport-influenced areas.
Under the proposal, unused FSI generated in a funnel-zone redevelopment could potentially be transferred or combined with another development elsewhere in Mumbai. Similar concepts involving plot clubbing have previously been discussed for redevelopment projects.
“According to the proposal, a developer can use the balance FSI from the funnel zone elsewhere in Mumbai. This proposal is based on a similar concept used in the redevelopment of cessed Mhada buildings under Regulation 33(7), clause 22, which permits developers to integrate two or more separate projects into a single unified plan to maximise the viability of the project,” said an official aware of the developments.
For example, if a project is entitled to 10,000 sq ft of FSI but airport-related height restrictions allow construction of only 7,000 sq ft, the remaining 3,000 sq ft could potentially be utilised on another eligible project outside the restricted zone.
Officials said the proposal was raised by legislators Parag Alavani and Amit Satam during discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Urban Development Department has subsequently sought a report from the BMC, which serves as Mumbai’s planning authority.
“Accordingly, the urban development department has sought a report from the BMC. As the BMC is the planning authority in Mumbai, it will give its opinion on where the FSI potential for buildings affected by funnel zone restrictions should be granted and how it should be utilised. It should also examine whether the additional FSI can be merged with adjoining or nearby developments,” the official added.
Alavani said the BMC’s report is awaited. “Chief minister Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde are positive on the issue of redevelopment of old buildings falling in the funnel zone of Mumbai airport. Various options were discussed so far. Now, I hope that the FSI clubbing proposal would resolve this long pending issue once the BMC submits its report,” he said.
Source: Hindustan Times
