Two Leelaventure and Viceroy hotel projects in Chennai hit regulatory roadblocks.
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has sent a notice to both saying their Planning Permission Applications (PPA) cannot be approved as there are some deviations and violations.
This has come at a time when the projects are, particularly the 14-storey Leelaventure's property, in the final stages of completion.
Coastal regulation zone
According to the CMDA, these project sites fall in CRZ II (Coastal Regulation Zone – II). And, in a letter addressed to Hotel Leelaventure, it has said that there are violations with reference Development Regulation under Second Master Plan. It points out that
(i) the height of the building – 64.8 meters – exceeds the permissible limit of 60 meters.
(ii) the proposal of reconstitution of two sites (hotel and IT park) into one is not allowable as setback and distance between the locks violate the rules.
(iii) FSI (floor space index) works out to 3.04 as against maximum permissible 2.00
Besides, in both the individual sites of hotel and IT building (separately approved earlier), OSR (open space reservation) lands were reserved and handed over to Chennai Corporation for maintenance. The applicant now changed the OSR area which differs in dimension – which is not permissible as the applicant does not have any right to change the dimensions of the OSR already gifted to the local body.
“In view of the above violations and defects, the planning permission for the development is refused,” says the letter.
Viceroy project
In the case of Viceroy Hotels, besides violation with reference to maximum height above ground level requirements, the CMDA cites violation in minimum setback area, FSI and parking space requirements as reasons for disapproval.
“The enforcement cell was requested to take further action against it,” adds the CMDA letter addressed to Viceroy Hotels. This property is to be run by Marriott Inc under its luxury brand JW Marriott.
According to industry sources, both the companies might have sunk close to Rs 250-300 crore each in these multi-storey projects.
Despite repeated attempts, officials of Viceroy Hotels could not be contacted. However, Mr Venu Krishnan, Deputy Managing Director of Leelaventure, said though he did not get to see the letter yet, he was in the know of it. Saying that there are no any large-scale deviations or any violation in the construction, he said the buildings are according to the plan approved earlier, and “the planning authority can go only prospective and not retrospective”.
According to him, the company, as directed by the CMDA, has now approached the Union Ministry of Environment for its clearance, and “I am 101 per cent sure that we will get all necessary approvals in a few weeks' time and will launch the property soon.”