Floor area ratio hiked around rapid transit systems in Delhi

Urban Development Ministry today almost doubled the floor area ratio for constructions around mass rapid transit systems like the Metro, albeit with some riders, to address the issues of traffic congestion and shortage of housing in Delhi. 

The move which will allow more vertical constructions comes under the Transit Oriented Development Policy (TOD) for Delhi approved by the Ministry. It allows mixed land use and sustainable inhabitation with minimised travel time for citizens and easy availability of public transport. 

A significantly higher floor area ratio (FAR) of 400 per cent from earlier up to 250 per cent will now allow more floors in a building that is required to address shortage of land availability, according to a senior UD Ministry official said. 

FAR is the ratio of a building's total floor area as compared to the size of the land upon which it is built. 

TOD policy shall be adopted for development within the Influence Zone -- extending up to 500 metres on both sides of MRTS corridors-- so that maximum number of people can live, work and find means of recreation within walking or cycling distance of the MRTS corridors or stations. 

However, TOD will not be applicable in Lutyens Bungalow Zone, Civil Lines Bungalows Area, Monument regulated zone, Zone 'O' (around river Yamuna) and Low Density Residential Area. TOD zone would comprise approximately 20 per cent of Delhi's overall area. 

Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has cleared the policy which is expected to recast Delhi's landscape as part of review of Master Plan for Delhi - 2021. Computerised single window clearance system shall be adopted for approval of TOD projects. 

According to a senior UD Ministry official, TOD is a key policy initiative for low-carbon, high-density and compact living spaces. It envisages creation of more homogeneous neighbourhoods, having work places near residences, creating public amenities within walking distances and providing safe environment through redevelopment along MRTS (Mass Rapid Transport System) corridors in the national capital. 

The provisions of the policy include development and redevelopment in TOD zone which will be incentivized by providing significantly higher FAR of 400 on the entire amalgamated plot being developed and redeveloped. 

However, these higher norms can be availed only for plots of area of 1 Ha or more.