Mumbai: A move to dash glass facades?

Glass facades, generally seen on Mumbai's high-rise residential buildings, could be a thing of past as per the new development control regulations (DCR) under the city's development plan (DP). The DCR suggests that if builders continue to use the glass facade material, which they are barred from using, then the area between the glass facade and the wall behind it will be counted under floor space index (FSI). The move is aimed at preventing builders from using the glass facade material as the FSI area (here, a tiny space between glass facade and the wall behind it) will lie barren thereby yielding no cost recovery. The glass cladding or facade is around half a metre away from the building wall, a space which is not enough for any use. Although, the reason behind the decision is unknown, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official from DP department said it could be a part of environment protection initiative.