Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CMDA recommends sanctioning of premium floor space index

Photo: V.Ganesan

CMDA vice-chairperson Susan Mathew and member secretary Vikram Kapur addressing a press meet in Chennai on Thursday. —

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has recommended sanctioning of premium floor space index in new buildings across the city, except in a few restricted localities, including the catchment and aquifer areas and along the East Coast Road. The charges for the premium FSI have also been calculated and sent to the State government.

(The premium FSI would be an additional built-up area that can be constructed over what is permitted after paying the charges fixed by the CMDA.)

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, CMDA vice-chairperson Susan Mathew said the CMDA was awaiting approval from the State government to implement the recommendations.

Similarly, the recommendations pertaining to the transfer of development rights, including whether the landowner has the option to choose the alternative space, have also been submitted to the State government for its approval, she said.

On the second Master Plan, she said that the regulations notified in the plan came into force on September 2. Members for the six committees that would go into various issues, including housing, land use and development regulations, have been identified. The committee meetings would be held shortly.

To a query on the CMDA’s demolition drive against unauthorised constructions, Ms. Mathew said that it had recently served demolition notices for three buildings in the city. The process of identifying more such buildings was under way. Chennai Corporation and other local bodies concerned were also carrying out the demolition drive.

Denying that there was an undue delay in sanctioning building approvals, she said one of the major reasons for the time taken was submission of incomplete applications. Normally, the process of approval would take about 30-45 days as it involved sanction from different government agencies and scrutiny of various documents.

Ms.Mathew gave details of a two-day national seminar on ‘Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026-Avenues and Opportunities,’ which would be inaugurated by Information Minister and CMDA Chairman Parithi Illamzhuthi on Friday.

Various aspects, including urban development and management and environmental management, would be discussed at the seminar. Experts and senior officials of several urban development authorities across the country would share their experience in the implementation of the master plans in their cities.

However, the second Master Plan would not undergo further modification. The recommendations of the seminar would be utilised for effective implementation of the plan, Ms.Mathew added. CMDA member secretary Vikram Kapur was present at the press conference.

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