Mumbai: The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC), which is developing Mumbai’s first underground Metro rail the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line has reportedly pushed up project costs for some of the construction project in its vicinity. The MMRC wants state government to compensate for this rising cost.
The MMRC has learnt to have written to the urban development department headed by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking grant of transferable development rights (TDR). The MMRC wants the government to consider this for building projects, which are located in the influence zone of the Metro corridor.
The TDR, issued in the form of a development rights certificate — it is nothing but floating Floor Space Index (FSI) — which allows builders additional construction rights when they construct or redevelop buildings. The TDR can be sold in the market as well. The FSI is the ratio of a building’s total floor area to the size of piece of land upon which it is build.
There is no provision, as of now to provide TDR for losses or increases in cost of a project.
According to the government’s existing norms it recognises generation of TDR when a landowner surrenders land to the government for building public amenities or rehousing slum dwellers and project-affected people.
Some senior officials don’t agree with this and have questioned the proposal “How does one measure the extent of the increase in project cost,” an official asked. Another senior official pointed out that accepting MMRC’s proposal could lead to other similar requests. “A ruling party MLA has been demanding TDR to compensate builders for height restrictions in the airport funnel. An approval to MMRC’s request could be seen as a precedent,” said the officer, reported Indian Express.
Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRC said, “We had received a representation in this regard from a construction project in Dadar. This was communicated to the government. We are yet to receive a response.”
The construction work for this ambitious and mega Metro line of 33.5-km has already begun. While the tunnel is set to be 20-25 metres below surface, the state government has put certain conditions on ongoing building constructions within 500 metres on either side of the corridor. “An NOC from the MMRC is mandatory,” said Bhide. For safety, this kind of construction projects are expected to take additional measures.
