50% Covid rebate for additional FSI remains until project completion

20 Nov 2023 CW Team

The Bombay High Court declared that the 50% discount granted by the state government to developers for purchasing additional Floor Space Index (FSI) during the pandemic would remain applicable until the completion of projects. The court directed the BMC to revalidate or renew building permissions without requiring payment of the differential premiums.

According to a Government Resolution (GR) dated January 14, 2021, a 50% rebate on additional FSI was offered for on-going and new projects, provided the premium was paid by December 31, 2021. The GR also mandated builders to cover the entire stamp duty for buyers in the economically-weaker section, as well as those in the lower, middle, and higher-income groups.

Nine developers, including Prestige Estate Projects, Sugee Two Developers LLP, Ankur Premises Developers, Mayfair Housing, and Evershine Builders, approached the court, alleging that the BMC was not renewing permissions that had lapsed after a year, despite projects having commenced. The BMC was demanding a substantial premium for additional FSI.

In an October ruling disclosed earlier this month, a bench of Justices G S Patel and Kamal Khata observed that the rebate was a "one-off" and applied only to projects that had paid premiums by the deadline and had undertaken full absorption of the stamp duty liability.

The BMC argued that, according to the GR, developers had to initiate construction within a year of obtaining the Intimation of Disapproval (IoD) certificate, followed by the Commencement Certificate (CC). The builders contested that this was not specified in the GR. The High Court remarked, "Very often, developers are unable to obtain CCs for reasons out of their control."

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..