Slums in CRZ II zone to get higher FSI
Slums in upscale areas like Cuffe Parade, Walkeshwar, Bandra, Juhu, Versova falling in the Coastal Regulatory Zone II could soon have more land available for development. The Ministery of housing has proposed a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 2.5 for redevelopment of slums falling in CRZ II.
According to the ministry’s estimates, there are over one lakh hutments in this area, occupying about one crore sq ft of expensive land, which is now being made available for redevelopment. The FSI in CRZ as on date is 1.33.
Since these hutments are in cramped conditions, developers need to build more in the same area to accommodate slum dwellers and are left with very little area to sell in the open market. According to Sachin Ahir, minister of state for housing they were approaching the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests to sanction the proposal of more FSI and make redevelopment here more viable. Since land for development in the city is limited, we need to take such steps to create more housing, said Ahir.
Activists call this an attempt to benefit the builder lobby, apart from raising ecological concerns. Developers will definitely not look at sea-facing homes to slum dwellers in CRZ. If the Centre approves it, we will see what actions need to be taken, Debi Goenka of the Bombay Environmental Action Group.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Leave your response!