The Maharashtra government has proposed significant relaxations in parking requirements within the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), aiming to facilitate additional development in one of the city’s most prominent commercial hubs. The proposed changes will apply to the added built-up area in existing and under-construction buildings located in the ‘E’ and ‘G’ blocks.
According to a notification issued by the state’s Urban Development Department on April 20, the BKC Notified Area Development Control Regulations may be amended to allow up to a 50% reduction in mandatory parking provisions for such expansions. However, the relaxation will not extend to entirely new developments. Developers and property owners seeking this benefit must demonstrate genuine constraints, such as limited physical space preventing them from meeting current parking norms.
The ‘E’ block houses key institutional offices, including the Reserve Bank of India, Income Tax Department, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority headquarters, while the ‘G’ block serves as an international finance and business district, accommodating major commercial landmarks and premium developments.
Currently, parking regulations require one space for every 40 sq m of floor area up to 800 sq m, and one space per 80 sq m beyond that threshold, with exemptions for areas up to 50 sq m. Any increase in built-up area typically necessitates a proportional rise in parking capacity.
The proposal follows earlier policy discussions aimed at unlocking BKC’s growth potential. In 2022, a state-appointed committee recommended rationalising Floor Space Index (FSI) norms and merging ‘E’ and ‘G’ blocks with a unified FSI of 4.0 to strengthen the area as a global financial hub. These recommendations were approved in July 2024.
Industry bodies, including CREDAI-MCHI and the BKC Property Owners Association, had requested such concessions, citing practical limitations in meeting parking requirements. An official noted, “They believed it would not be possible to fulfil parking requirements in the built-up area, considering physical constraints, and requested concessions in parking space.”
While the move is expected to benefit developers and encourage redevelopment, concerns remain that reduced parking provisions could intensify congestion in an already traffic-heavy district.
The government has invited public feedback on the proposal, which is expected to be finalised after a one-month review period.
Source: Hindustan Times
