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The State Government has liberalised rules for construction of high-rise buildings and streamlined floor area ratio (FAR) norms.
FAR norms in force before amendments to the Kerala Municipal Building Rules in 2009 and 2010 have been restored, Manjalamkuzhi Ali, urban affairs minister, said.
PANEL SUGGESTIONS
This is as per recommendations of a Cabinet subcommittee appointed with a mandate to rectify anomalies, he told newspersons here. The definition of a ‘high-rise’ has itself been redefined, the minister said.
Existing rules defined a building with four floors or 15 metres height as a high-rise building. This height has been raised to 16 metres now and any number of floors may be constructed within the prescribed height.
Existing rules also insisted that high-rises should leave open spaces admeasuring five metres on all sides. As per new norms, these buildings need provide this space only in the front and one of the other three sides.
PARKING SPACE
Parking space for flats has been increased. Mechanised parking will be permitted in 50 per cent of the mandatory parking area. Residential buildings up to 8,000 sq m will be permitted along the side of roads with a width of five metres.
Those having 8,000 sq m to 18,000 sq m will be permitted by the side of roads with width of six metres; 18,000 sq m to 24,000 sq m by side of roads with width of seven metres width.
For those above 24,000 sq m, the road width has been fixed at 10 metres. On converting a cinema theatre into a shopping mall or auditorium, space with one-third seating capacity should be retained as such.
SINGLE WINDOW
A single-window construction clearance system has been mooted for large-scale projects. Capital outlay of such major projects has been fixed at Rs 100 crore. It should have an area of more than two ha and generate employment opportunities too.
A committee with principal secretary, local administration as chairman; chief town planner as convener; and urban affairs director and town planners of respective districts and secretaries of respective local self-government institutions will be formed for recommending clearance for such projects.
Such projects will get FAR concessions one-and-half to five times more than the prevailing norms. New rules will be introduced to issue conditional construction permit in islands.
Permission will be given for construction in islands which can be accessed by boat. The rules will be referred to an Assembly subject committee for ratification, the minister said.
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