No IT firms in residential areas: HC’s new ruling
The High Court, with its recent ruling, has turned the tables for IT firms emerging in residential areas of Bangalore. As per the new ruling, using the residential areas in the city for commercial establishments (like Information Technology), is a strict violation of the law. IT firms will not be given permission to set up in the residential locations of the city, since it contributes to parking woes.
It all boils down to enforcements. Lack of zoning regulations is one of the weakest links in the development plan of the city. The BBMP(Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike), the agency accountable for enforcing zoning regulations created-residential, commercial and mixed use zone, however, lack of a monitoring system eventually led to large-scale violations in the city.
What the law says
Bangalore has a Comprehensive Development Plan(CDP), now framed as RMP(Revised Master Plan-2015 that constitutes all the rules and laws regarding zone regulations. According to the law, not more than 20% of the plot area or 50 sq metres should be utilized for commercial purpose.
In addition to it, the law also states that on-site parking must be included. For every car, 50 sq mts of office space should be reserved, while for a restaurant space 75 sq mts should be provided. Furthermore, the law also stipulates that in order to run a commercial establishment, appropriate licenses and sanctions are a mandate.
Violations on a rise
As per key property consultants, a number of houses in the city are converted into software companies. Popular residential locations such as Koramangala, Jayanagar, Indiranagar etc. have witnessed conversion of a number of homes into office spaces, on a large scale. The sole reason for commercial establishments opting for residential buildings is cost savings.
In some parts of CDP, a number of zones were proposed as ‘residential mixed’, however, the Karnataka High Court in its interim ruling has struck down the proposal in the revised Master Plan-2015. RMP-2015 proposed rampant commercialization of residential locations, however, a particular space should be allocated for it and not beside a residential building.
