FSI gift for parking space spells trouble for already choking city
Sujit Patwardhan
The fact that we are seeing such a headline and write up in mainstream media is an evidence of successful advocacy by dedicated NGOs and Traffic Experts against creating more and more parking spaces that only end up encouraging greater use of personal auto vehicle use.
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Sujit
http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&querypage=1&boxid=30708176&parentid=121383&eddate=07/26/2010
FSI gift for parking space spells trouble for already choking city |
State will release nearly 87 lakh sq ft of buildable area as incentive to developers for setting up public parking spaces on a portion of their plots |
Sandeep Ashar Mumbai |
The government is piling on the problems in an already congested city,
adding to the existing pressure on urban infrastructure. Consider this.
In a move likely to strain the city further, the state has virtually
cleared the decks for the release of an additional buildable area of
nearly 87 lakh sq ft. The area will be released to developers in
the form of incentive FSI (floor space index, ratio of permissible
built-up area vis-a-vis the plot size) for setting up public parking
spaces on a portion of their respective plots. Here's how the
figures add up. For every parking space a builder provides, it stands to
benefit to the tune of 320 sq ft. Thirty private parties, including
those undertaking redevelopment of mill lands in central Mumbai, have
undertaken to create 27,088 public parking spaces, an urban development
department official said. This translates into the nearly 87 lakh sq ft
for commercial exploitation. The proposals have been received
following the state's decision last year to amend development control
regulations to permit private participation in public parking. As per
norms, a private party can avail up to 50% of the built-up area of the
public parking space constructed on the plot. The parking facility, once
created, has to be handed over free-of-cost to the BMC. A
state-appointed committee has approved all the 30 proposals in
principle. The urban development department has approved 20 of these. A
committee member indicated 30 other proposals were in the pipeline. Datar, who was appointed by the BMC as a parking expert on a
technical committee for its own public parking proposals, further added
that houses constructed in the incentive area will only complicate the
parking and infrastructure problem. Urban planner and renowned architect
Pankaj Joshi echoed his views. "I see this policy as just another
avenue for builders to get FSI," he said. The maximum impact of the additional load will be felt in the densely congested island city. Nearly 75 lakh sq ft, amounting to 86% of the total additional area, will be utilised in this region. Officials said that 21 of the 30 proposals were from the island city. The region will cater to 23,362 of the total recommended car park space of 27,088. Almost all of these will come up on mill lands. A holistic transportation policy to solve congestion woes was needed, said Joshi. |
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Sujit Patwardhan
patwardh...@gmail.com
su...@parisar.org
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