The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Cap on FSI: move evokes mixed response

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Thursday, Feb 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Cap on FSI: move evokes mixed response

M.L. Melly Maitreyi

HYDERABAD: That the government is thinking of re-introducing cap on Floor Space Index, which was done away with under the GO 86 building regulations, is evoking mixed response.

One notion is that re-introducing FSI cap will help reduce congestion and regulate population density in an area commensurate with civic infrastructure like drainage, sewage, drinking water, road network.

There are concerns that some prestigious projects coming up on the outskirts are taking undue benefit from unlimited FSI concept and this will ultimately lead to alarming density levels in those areas and compound congestion problems being faced in the core city area. By proposing to cap FSI at 1:2.5, the government is taking precautions to avert such a scenario in developing areas.

In cities like New Delhi and Ahmedabad, the maximum FSI is 1:2.5 even if the road width is 300ft and 200 ft respectively. FSI is a measure to control the density in an area vis-À-vis available road network and civic infrastructure. No civic body can function effectively and plan for civic infrastructure with an open-ended FSI.

City planners say FSI does not determine the building height but is a ratio of permissible built-up area in all floors divided by area of the plot. It remains constant and it is for the builder to construct as per the sanctioned FSI in any number of floors.

Meanwhile builders see the re-introduction of cap as retrograde. “It is wrong and unwarranted,” says C. Shekhar Reddy, president, Builders’ Forum of AP. Investors might hesitate to come to State and it can lead to slump. The preamble of GO 86 is to decongest core city areas by facilitating growth outside. Rationalised norms would get better compliance as experience showed 90 per cent of buildings had deviations in the past.

Meanwhile, promoters had lapped up land auctioned by HUDA, APIIC, APHB at exorbitant price attracted by ‘unlimited FSI’ feature. Now an FSI cap again, would upset projects that are at take off stage, it is said.

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