New Delhi: To provide relief from the ongoing sealing in its jurisdiction, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Thursday approved new guidelines for regularisation/sanction of shops-cum-residences (SCR), which will be designated as local shopping centre (LSC).
Officials of the Corporation said, "Implementation of the new guidelines will facilitate regularisation of existing buildings, uniform 300-350 FAR to the maximum buildings/plots, ease in getting sealed properties de-sealed, commercial use of basements and installation of lifts as per existing MPD and prevailing laws."
"With implementation of the new guidelines, most of the difficulties of building owners would become a thing of the past and pave way for planned growth in the city," they added.
SDMC Standing Committee chairperson Shikha Rai said that earlier, an FAR (floor area ratio) of 180 used to be allowed in SCR plots, where commercial activity was allowed at ground floor and residential activity in two upper floors.
After notification of the first Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) in 1962, the then Municipal Corporation of Delhi used to regularise/sanction as per the standard plan prepared and approved by the Architecture Department of the MCD.
Later, a few SCRs were mentioned as LSC in the MPD 2001, though MCD used to sanction as per the existing standard plan.
On notification of the third MPD in 2007, colonies set up before 1962 were allowed residential FAR.
In the meantime, the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee started sealing action across the city.
Rai further said that in order to rectify the discrepancies, the Union Urban Development Ministry notified a policy on June 21 to simplify the process of regularisation/sanction and to overcome difficulties faced by building owners.
Consequent upon the issuance of the notification, SDMC has come out with the new guidelines to pave way for a hassle-free, rational and transparent process.
Rai said that among the benefits offered by the new guidelines is maintenance of front façade as per standard façade control drawing, in case of re-construction of building in SCR complex later designated as commercial complex, LSC or CSC.
Other benefits include permission of basement and installation of lifts as per prevailing Unified Building Bye Laws (UBBL) of 2016, 100 per cent ground coverage with respect to constructions dating back to September 22, 2016, regularisation of 100 per cent coverage at ground floor and permission for earlier sanctioned mezzanine by MCD and Delhi Development Authority."
"In case basement is being used for parking, the same will not be included in the FAR. Further, no activity will be permitted on the roof/terrace except as permissible under UBBL, 2016. The conversion charges, additional FAR charges and parking charges shall be paid as per notification," she added.