G.O. (Ms.) No.148, Variations to Development Control Regulations, 2018

What the government changed

Government Order (Ms.) No.148, issued by the Housing and Urban Development (UD1) Department on 26 October 2018, varies Development Control Regulations 3(3), 4(3)C, 5(2)D, 6 and 6B(2). The changes followed a proposal from the Commissioner of Town and Country Planning to increase free Floor Space Index by 0.5 and make a corresponding increase in Premium Floor Space Index.

The government considered land availability, Floor Space Index standards in Tamil Nadu and other cities, and the effect of lower Floor Space Index on urban form and housing for low income people.

Areas and developments covered

Government Order (Ms.) No.148 concerns Development Control Regulations for special buildings, multi-storied buildings, group developments and layouts in Local Planning Areas covering:

• Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichirapalli, Salem and Tirunelveli.
• Vellore, Tiruppur, Erode and Thoothukudi.
• Mamallapuram, Thiruvallur, Gummidipoondi, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu.

The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning must direct all planning authorities to vary their Development Control Regulations accordingly.

Key Floor Space Index provisions

Government Order (Ms.) No.148 substitutes revised Floor Space Index provisions, including:

• A maximum Floor Space Index of 2.0 for residential development and 1.5 for other development under Development Control Regulation 4(3)C.
• Premium Floor Space Index above the normally allowable Floor Space Index, subject to a maximum additional 1.0 for special buildings and group developments.
• A maximum additional Premium Floor Space Index of 1.62 for multi-storied buildings in specifically notified areas.
• Collection at rates prescribed with government approval, with the amount kept in an appropriate account for infrastructure development in the area.

Premium Floor Space Index by road width

Government Order (Ms.) No.148 specifies Premium Floor Space Index in planning areas under the Directorate of Town and Country Planning as follows:

• Roads 18 metres wide and above, 50 per cent of normally allowable Floor Space Index.
• Roads from 12 metres to below 18 metres, 40 per cent.
• Roads from 9 metres to below 12 metres, 30 per cent.

These percentages remain subject to the overall Premium Floor Space Index limits.

Effective date and exclusions

Government Order (Ms.) No.148 states that the increased Floor Space Index and Premium Floor Space Index came into force on 1 October 2018. The increases do not apply in Coastal Regulation Zone areas or in other ecologically sensitive areas notified by the government.