Doubled FSI To Boost Rapid Urbanization Around Mumbai

Rural areas and small towns around Mumbai may see more urbanization over the next few decades. The Maharashtra government too is extending its support by offering the same construction potential to non-corporation areas as that of big cities. The Maharashtra government has extended the development control regulations (DCR) to places outside the jurisdiction of the city municipal corporations.

State’s move for urbanization

There are two benefits from the government’s move to extend the DCR and urbanize areas outside the municipal corporation’s jurisdiction.

The first one is that, this will bring the benefits of double floor space index (FSI) and other FSI incentives to areas that are larger than the urban areas of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This will fast-track the urbanization of the metropolitan region, as the extension of DCR to these regions will bring in a huge stock of cheaper land for development, with the promise of better infrastructure.

The second benefit is that rapid urbanization will reduce the overheated prices in urbanized localities in the city of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane, by offloading the demand to non-urban areas.

Twice the FSI and other FSI incentives

One of the major moves of the state government is the doubling of FSI from 0.75 to 1.5 in these non-urban areas. There are also offers of various FSI incentives for essential urban necessities such as housing, religious buildings, institutions, guest houses, semi-government offices, IT parks, public undertakings, police buildings, biotech parks, public libraries, MHADA schemes and redevelopment projects. The decision is applicable to all municipal councils and panchayats across the state and will specifically benefit cities which are expanding.

Experts say that the new FSI regime will reduce the under-utilization of land in the metropolitan region. It would also slow down the pace of conversion of agricultural land into urban land as the developable land is enough to cater to the demand. There are FSI incentives against road widening. This means that more the width of the road to be broadened, more is the FSI against the acquired land and road space. This space can be utilized for housing and commercial development.

Owners with houses in front of wider roads will get up to 90% FSI for construction instead of the existing 75%. The state has also removed the height restrictions of buildings in these areas. An adjustable FSI of 0.20% has been granted for the buildings. This is to avoid any illegalities in building galleries, balconies and corridors in the new townships. Even the land owners will be able to develop plots reserved by state for schools and hospitals.

Infrastructure holds key for urbanization

Town planning experts say that just increasing FSI and FSI incentives will not help in urbanization of these areas. There are other infrastructure such as better transportation facilities and civic services required in order to attract developers and development.

With the extension of DCR and FSI incentives to non-urban areas across the state, all the major cities, specifically MMR will benefit due to urbanization.