Mumbai property FSI: Mega-city's parking woes generate out-of-the-box solution

The parking scene in Mumbai, a fallout of the city’s ever-growing vehicle population, may become less chaotic in the coming years. The civic body has reworked its parking policy to encourage private parties to create space for vehicles, DNA has learnt. Under the revised policy, prepared as part of the proposed Development Plan (2034) for the city, developers will earn uniform floor space index for building parking lots in the island city as well as the suburbs. Sources said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will provide an FSI of 3 for lots coming up on plots up to 2,000 sq mt. The FSI will be 4 for parking areas to be developed on land size above 2,000 sq mt. This is a departure from the existing norms that offer an FSI of 4 or 3, that too depending on the locality.

The policy will come into effect once the state government clears the city’s blueprint, which is expected by the end of this month. There are an estimated 32 lakh private vehicles, including 10 lakh cars and 19 lakh two-wheelers, in the city.

According to the proposed rules, a developer builds a parking lot, which will be limited to ground-plus four and three basements, for free and hands it over to the BMC. Land earmarked for other than open space, school and hospital can be developed under the scheme, state officials told this newspaper. In return, the builder earns FSI as an incentive which can be sold in the market.

In the draft development plan, the BMC has proposed to set up a special authority to monitor parking across the city. A BMC deputy commissioner told DNA, “BMC has informed the Bombay High Court on April 14 about the establishment of the Parking Authority. Till it comes into existence, a committee headed by the municipal commissioner will earmark and select the plots for public parking.’’

The official said that the minimum number of parking spaces provided will not be less than 50 subject to minimum parking space of 700 sq mt.

(By Sanjay Jog, DNA)