‘Relax FSI norm for rental hsg’

Mumbai: The MMRDA chief wants the floor space index (FSI) granted to developers to be flexible in order to enable them to construct with viable rental housing tenements. FSI defines the permissible built-up area on a plot. 

    MMRDA commissioner Rahul Asthana said builders often found theFSI of 4 (mandatory under the rental housing scheme) "unviable" in some areas. 
    Asthana, heads an expert panel reviewing the rental accommodation scheme, said the recommendations had been made to the state government in a bid to improve the project. 
    The panel is looking into ways to make the rental housing plan more effective. The state government had planned to construct 5 lakh housing units for low cost rentals ranging between Rs 800 and Rs 1,500 per month. Around 30,000 units measuring 160 sq ft each are under construction, but the scheme has run into a hurdle. "Under the scheme, 15 to 20% of the units should be handed over to the civic body since it was providing inputs," Asthana said. 
    "10% of the stock should be given to the government for special groups while the remaining housing units should be tagged as 'affordable housing' and sold," he added. 
    To improve the infrastructure in the city, the state agency will be putting the elevated road planned from Worli to Sewri on the front burner, sources said. 
Sops must for Metro-III project 
    The MMRDA chief wants the state government to provide incentives in the form of land or grants to ensure that the third line of Mumbai Metro (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) gets adequate finance. Asthana said the 37.5-km-long route that will be underground needs thrust. Japanese International Cooperation Agency will be funding up to 55% of the project cost, while the MMRDA will contribute 20%, the Centre will cough up 20%. TNN