No rooftop helipads: BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) rejected a proposal to amend the Development Control Rule (DCR) to allow rooftop helipads. The urban development department sent a proposal to the BMC, asking them to amend the rule. On Wednesday, the BMC’s improvement committee rejected the proposal because it would benefit only the rich and would not be beneficial for common man.

The UD department has sent directives to the BMC to change the Development Control Rules (DCR) no 71 of 1991 that allows the construction of helipad on terraces. “Why does the government want to allow private helipads on terrace for rich people? It will not help the poor patients in hospitals or be useful for fire fighting,” said Bhalchandra Shirsat, chairman improvement committee.

Other committee members also objected the proposal over the security and other concerns. “The state government doesn’t have any policy for the security of the helipads, no guidelines about noise pollution,” Manoj Kotak said.

 “There is a public interest litigation (PIL) pending with high court filed by the Awaz Foundation regarding the noise pollution caused by the use of helicopters. The matter has not been decided by the high court. Then how the BMC allow the rooftop helipads,” he added.

The state government has issued guidelines to set up a helipad on rooftops. For that the government directed to the BMC to change the DCR.