G.O.(Ms).No.181, Premium Floor Space Index in Directorate of Town and Country Planning Areas, 2016

What the government order does

G.O.(Ms).No.181 dated 31.10.2016 directs Local Planning Authorities to insert Regulation 6-B, containing special guidelines for Premium Floor Space Index, into the Development Control Regulations for their Master Plans. Premium Floor Space Index permits additional floor area over the normally allowable Floor Space Index, subject to the applicable limits and payment requirements.

The direction covers Erode, Vellore, Tiruvallur, Coimbatore, Madurai, Gummidipoondi, Kancheepuram, Salem, Chengalpattu, Tirupur, Tiruchirappalli and Mamallapuram. The inserted guidelines must also be followed in the Local Planning Areas of Thirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

Who may be affected

The Premium Floor Space Index guidelines affect builders, developers and owners who apply for planning permission and want additional floor area in planning areas controlled by the Director of Town and Country Planning. Applicants must state their willingness to use Premium Floor Space Index when filing the planning permission application and undertake to pay the charge before receiving planning permission or technical clearance.

Permitted additional Floor Space Index

The permissible Premium Floor Space Index is linked to the width of the road serving the property:

• Roads 18 metres and above: 40 per cent of the normally allowable Floor Space Index.
• Roads from 12 metres to below 18 metres: 30 per cent.
• Roads from 9 metres to below 12 metres: 20 per cent.
• The permitted amount remains subject to the limits in regulation 6 of the Development Control Regulations.

For special buildings and group developments receiving an additional 25 per cent Floor Space Index for stilt parking, Premium Floor Space Index is restricted to 0.2. For specified multi-storeyed developments, group developments and hospital buildings receiving an additional Floor Space Index of 0.25, the combined extra Floor Space Index is restricted to the limits in Regulation 6-B.

Charges and payment

• The charge is based on the cost of the proportionate land associated with the additional floor area.
• Land cost is calculated using the Registration Department guideline value on the date of the planning permission application.
• Payment is normally 50 per cent in cash and 50 per cent through a Development Rights Certificate or Special Development Rights Certificate.
• The Director of Town and Country Planning may permit full cash payment if satisfied with the reasons why the required certificate is unavailable.
• The applicant must pay the charge in one lump sum to the Member-Secretary of the relevant Local Planning Authority before planning permission is issued.
• Amounts collected must be remitted to a separately allotted Government account.