The Maharashtra government has increased the floor space index (FSI), or the permissible development on a plot, to four times from three across the state for slum-rehabilitation projects, in line with existing guidelines for the country’s commercial capital, Mumbai.
The state government has revised the Unified Development Control Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) for the rest of the state to give effect to this increase in the FSI.
“In late 2019, the FSI for slum-rehabilitation projects in Mumbai was increased to four times from the earlier three, and now, after over two years, the same has been made applicable to other parts of Maharashtra,” said a senior state government official. The move is expected to push projects involving slum rehabilitation in other parts of the state apart from Mumbai.
The new rules are applicable to all municipal corporations, councils and nagar panchayats across the state, except Mumbai and some neighboring areas like hill stations, eco-sensitive zones and specified corporation areas.
As per the UDPCR issued in December 2020, the density for slum rehabilitation projects to receive the FSI of three was set at 500 dwellings per 2.5 acres. This permissible density has now been increased to 650 dwellings per 2.5 acres, while increasing the FSI to four times from three.
Slum-rehabilitation authorities will have the flexibility to consider projects with an even lower density of 500 dwellings per 2.5 acres, to ensure more rehabilitation projects are undertaken and slum dwellers are accommodated in such developments. For effective implementation of the projects, a separate authority is likely to be set up for eight metropolitan municipalities including Thane, Kalyan, Panvel, Vasai-Virar and Bhiwandi-Nizampur. Seven municipalities and councils, including Badlapur, Ambernath Alibag, Pen, Khopoli, Matheran and Karjat will also be made part of this separate authority.
