The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has decided to
relax the restrictions in the height of buildings to facilitate
construction of buildings with higher ceiling, better ventilation,
improved aesthetics and better use of technology.

“The CMDA has
made a decision to increase the floor height to 3.5 metres. The
government has to make a final decision on amending the development
regulations. The decision is expected shortly,” said a CMDA official.

Currently,
the planning authorities permit higher ceiling only for multi-storied
and special buildings, while other buildings such as institutions and
industries are unable to build rooms with higher ceilings if they are
not categorised as multi-storied buildings or special buildings.

“Owing
to the restrictions in height, the height from floor to a ceiling
cannot be more than 2.95 metres now. After the amendment of the
development regulations, the height can go up to 3.5 metres, offering
better ventilation,” said the official.

As per the existing
provisions of the development regulations in Chennai Metropolitan Area,
if the height of a building measured from the ground level is 15.25
metres, such building will not be considered a multi-storied building.

Multi-storied
buildings are those exceeding four floors with at least 15.25 metres in
height. Once the amendments come, buildings with a height of 17 metres
would be classified as institutional buildings or industrial buildings.
In case of hospitals, however, buildings not exceeding four floors with a
height of 17 metres are already classified as non multi-storied
buildings.