Govt. Of Karnataka Revised Town Planning Rules, Granted Additional FAR
In a major policy declaration, the Karnataka government on 31st July 2020 issued an ordinance to encourage vertical development in the state by allowing civic agencies to levy a 33% premium to the high floor area ratio (FAR). The government is expected to get more revenue from this.
The ordinance, an amendment to the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act, provides for charging a premium rate of no more than one-third of the guidance value for every approval to the civic agencies and the government to increase the floor area ratio on properties.
The builders welcomed the decision to allow higher FARs but found the 33% premium to be ineffective.
According to Rakesh Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, the state government is in the process of drafting rules and regulations related to FAR and allied aspects. Premium FARs can be acquired primarily along mass rapid transport corridors, which include Namma Metro lines and Peripheral Ring Road (PRR).
The principal idea behind the change in policy is to encourage high-rise development along the Nammah metro lines in Bengaluru. However, other rules, including setbacks under the KBCP Act, will remain the same.
This effectively means that large development of bigger plots and properties by builders would benefit from premium FAR regulations.
The scheme is applicable in Mangalore Municipal Corporation, where every additional FAR is available at a 50% guidance value. Once a common scheme is introduced, this corporation may lose some revenue.
