The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Path cleared for regularisation of penthouses and high rises

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 30, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Path cleared for regularisation of penthouses and high rises

HYDERABAD: Penthouse owners, residential buildings above 18 metres and commercial buildings over 15 metres high have a good chance of getting their structures regularised under the Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) but at a price. Commercial buildings, however, should not be illegally converted from residential.

The recently released simplified guidelines for setting up mandatory fire safety equipment allow them to do so if occupants are ready to shell out between Rs. 3.61 lakh to Rs. 5.84 lakh depending on the vacant space on terrace floor area to get the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) issued.

Fire safety equipment

There could be close to 2,000 BPS applications under these categories and these would be eligible for regularisation provided fire safety equipment is installed in the next couple of months. Extent of fire safety equipment depends on whether the terrace floor is occupied less than two-thirds or more.

Extra external staircase with minimum 1.25 meters width /roof exit is being insisted if only one internal staircase exists. Horizontal emergency exit through adjacent buildings via suitable bridges has been mooted as an alternative if a separate staircase is not possible in the existing premises.

Fire extinguishers, hose reels, alarm systems, terrace pumps, automatic sprinkler systems and terrace tanks are among those to be installed. If six metres empty space is not available all round the building, a four-way fire brigade inlet, yard hydrant, additional water storage either underground or overhead, emergency lighting with battery backup, public address system, pump, etc., are mandatory.

All these could cost each flat owner anywhere from Rs. 20,000 each more from what was paid as penal amount for regularisation. Municipal officials have realised during interaction with owners that for many buildings there was no unanimity whether the cost has to be borne by the penthouse owner or by all. “Fire safety equipment is not for top floor occupant alone but for the entire building,” observed a senior official.

However, there is some relief regarding obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Municipal authorities have decided to follow the common building rules in this aspect by allowing high rise buildings to submit a copy of NOC obtained from AAI by a nearby building which is of similar height or more.

AAI authorities apparently have made it clear they are permitted to issue fresh NOCs to new high rises only and for existing buildings, they will have to refer to the head office.

The AAI was also clear that any building within 20 km radius of Begumpet airport (since it continues to be functional) or Shamshabad international airport have to take the NOC.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh