Gurugram: More ground coverage likely to be allowed in plots to curb violations

GURUGRAM: In a major relief for plot owners and home developers, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) is likely to increase the ground coverage for plots measuring up to 250 sqm (300 sq yards) from 66 to 75%. Similarly, larger plots measuring up to 1,000 sqm may be allowed to have 66% ground coverage from the earlier 60%.

With the increase in ground coverage, plot owners will be able to construct lifts, staircases and cutouts without compromising the floor area ratio (FAR), which in turn, officials believe, will help bring down violations and unauthorised construction in plotted areas. FAR is the ratio of a building’s gross floor area to the size of the piece of land on which it’s built.

The DTCP, officials said, has already issued a public notice about bringing amendments to the Haryana Building Code 2017 and invited suggestions or objections from all the stakeholders within 30 days.

Director of DTCP, KM Pandurang said the department has proposed amendments to the Haryana Building Code 2017, “and it will bring relief to the plot owners and home developers”. “If the property owners and builders still violate the norms and carry out unauthorised construction, the enforcement team will take strict action, including sealing and filing of FIRs against the offenders,” he said.

Former president of the Gurgaon Home Developers and Plot Owners Association (GHDPOA), Ramesh Singla said, “The plot owners have long been demanding exclusion of staircases and lifts from FAR calculation, and it was a key reason for
violation in plotted houses. Due to the stairs and lifts, which are common areas but included in the FAR, builders get less space to construct flats.”

Of 264 FAR, Singla said, 24 gets utilized in stairs and lifts and builders get only 240 to construct flats.

“We have had several meetings with the director of the town and country planning department in the past and we also wrote to the chief minister, and finally the demand has been accepted. This will bring the much needed relief to all the
stakeholders,” he added. When asked about the benefits of increased ground coverage, a city-based real estate expert also said that the move will be of great help as lifts and staircases can be constructed without compromising on FAR.

“The move will also help check violations and unauthorised construction by property owners to some extent,” he said.