Developers can now freely convert the spaces allotted for flower beds, balconies and voids into living areas but will have to pay a premium to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Besides bringing in transparency in the use of floor space index (FSI), the modified Development Control (DC) rule will regularise illegal alterations.
An FSI is the amount of construction allowed on a particular plot. Higher the FSI, more the number of floors that can be added. "It will surely stop illegal additions and alterations done by bribing local civic engineers and elected representatives. Now, a developer or a buyer has to pay a premium to the civic body to use flower beds and balconies as living areas. As a result, no developer will propose the ornamental and elevation features in the plan," said a BMC architect.
But developers are not happy with the amended rule, saying it will hamper the additional features of upcoming buildings. "Developers will not give priority to enhance a building's beauty. He has to pay a heavy amount to the BMC for that. Earlier, all elevation features were included into free of FSI," said Paras Gundecha, president of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry.
Another developer said the civic officials had failed to take action against illegal constructions, additions and alterations. Instead of taking action against civic officials, the government has regularised the illegal construction.
"We will no longer have beautiful buildings. The new rule will spoil the beauty and aesthetic view of the historical city which houses several heritage buildings," he said requesting anonymity. But architects said the rule will not hamper the aesthetic look of a building, instead it would stop the misuse of space.
"The municipal commissioner has given us choice. The elevation features is not part of the DC rule. The architect will find out ways to have more ornamental features in buildings. Earlier, developers had misused spaces for balconies and flower beds. Therefore, the government introduced the new rule," said architect PK Das.
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