Hindustan Times 03.03.2010
Smaller towns may also go verticalSoon, high rises may not be unique to metros like Mumbai. In the near future, small towns like Alibaug, Dahanu may also sport swanky towers and high rises.
With an eye on fast paced development in towns and semi-urban areas in the state, the Urban Development Department (UDD) is looking at granting development norms to these municipalities on the lines of big cities like Mumbai.
The state has about 223 such municipal bodies, which will now get development plans and tools like the Floor Space Index (FSI) and Transferred Development Rights (TDR).
FSI is the ratio of the total area constructed to the size of the plot of land it stands on. TDR refers to development rights granted as compensation for land surrendered for public projects like road widening.
So far, these municipal bodies had rudimentary land use policies with reservation for industrial, commercial and residential usage. The FSI in these towns is 1.
The UDD will set up a committee under deputy director of planning to draft standard norms and building by laws to govern development in these municipal bodies. This decision was taken at a meeting of the town planning departments last week. It is awaiting Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s clearance.
“Why shouldn’t smaller towns get benefits of better development norms? The move will help avoid haphazard development in these municipalities,’’ said TC Benjamin, principal secretary, UDD.
This could mean that in the future, FSI in these regions could be increased depending on development projects. For instance, five star hotels, education institutes and hospitals could get FSI of five as is allowed in Mumbai.
