New guidelines for high rise buildings welcomed

With regard to high rise buildings the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) has issued new guidelines and the guidelines have been welcomed by the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO). The guidelines would now allow greater flexibility for State governments and local bodies, to decide on high rise buildings, based on issues such as population density, pressure on land, etc.

NAREDCO feels that the new guidelines will help in the completion of stalled projects and also encourage slum rehabilitation projects. The new guidelines are a result of suggestions taken by the Ministry from various State governments and the industry. Also, MOEF had examined the representations and recommendations of the committee constituted under the chairmanship of K Kasturirangan, member of Planning Commission, before deciding on the issue.

Welcoming the development, Sunil Mantri, vice president of NAREDCO, said that the anomalies within earlier guidelines have been removed. The new guidelines will help more than 100 projects to complete construction. Our estimate is that nearly Rs 10,000 crore have been blocked in such projects.

Road width versus building's height was the greatest challenge in congested cities like Mumbai, where high rise apartments are the only option available, irrespective of the road width. Indeed, allowing local planning authority and the State government to follow the local rules and regulations is the most practical solution to the issue.