Mumbai has emerged as Maharashtra’s frontrunner in the green building movement, with more than 1,700 registered projects spanning over 1,800 million sq ft of built-up green building area. This includes over 550 certified green buildings and 45 net-zero emissions projects. Green buildings are defined as developments designed for efficient energy and water use, low emissions and reduced environmental impact.

According to a statement from the CII-Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) on Tuesday, the rapid growth in green projects has been driven by supportive state policies, including additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) benefits for IGBC-certified buildings. Set up by the Confederation of Indian Industry in 2001, the IGBC now oversees a registered green footprint of 14.75 billion sq ft across India, with more than 17,060 projects adopting its 32 rating systems. About 90 per cent of India’s green building projects use IGBC ratings, making it the market leader.

Several prominent structures in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are IGBC certified, including CIDCO Bhavan in Navi Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters, the Reserve Bank of India building in Fort, and Bombay House, the headquarters of the Tata Group. Financial and technology offices in Bandra Kurla Complex also feature heavily on the IGBC list.

Maharashtra’s collaboration with CII has accelerated adoption through certification schemes, regulatory mandates and capacity-building programmes, positioning the state as a national model for sustainable urban growth. Beyond Mumbai, cities such as Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) and Navi Mumbai are setting new benchmarks in green development.

M Anand, Deputy Executive Director of CII IGBC, said Maharashtra’s commitment to sustainable urban development showcases “visionary governance and strategic partnerships”. He added that the state has demonstrated how sustainability and economic growth can advance together, setting a precedent for other states.

The Urban Development Department has introduced several policy measures to incentivise green buildings. FAR incentives of 3, 5 and 7 per cent are offered for IGBC Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings, respectively. The Public Works Department mandates all new government buildings and renovations to comply with IGBC ratings. Under the updated Urban Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) 2020, integrated township projects must achieve at least an IGBC Silver rating.

Maharashtra has also been proactive in drafting the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) Rules 2025 to standardise energy performance norms for new commercial buildings, aligning with national energy-efficiency and net-zero goals.

These efforts have contributed to India becoming the world’s second-largest green building market. The cumulative impact includes significant reductions in carbon emissions, energy consumption and water usage—benefits that support public health and India’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2070.