For buildings in CRZ areas, wait for FSI got longer

Residents of buildings along the coast will have to wait a little longer before they can exploit the construction benefits under Development Plan 2034. Last December, the Centre approved the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification-2018 which delinked floor space index (FSI) from coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms. This came as a huge relief for Mumbai as a large number of buildings, slums, koliwadas, gaothans in CRZ areas could now go in for redevelopment and avail of the same FSI as applicable in the rest of the city. Under DP-2034, FSI in the island city, depending on the road width, can go up to 4.05 while in the suburbs it can go up to 3.4. The decision also opened up a potential market for developers. Two months later, the Centre has poured cold water over these grandiose plans by linking the CRZ Notification to the updated coastal zone management plan (CZMP)-a process that could take anywhere from a few months to a few years. All structures in CRZ areas can only be repaired till that time, or go in for redevelopment provided they are declared as old and dilapidated. Then again they can avail an FSI of 1.33 in the island city and 1 in the suburbs.