DDA may raise floor area ratio of commercial establishments from 180 to 300

Increase in floor area ratio, will be subject to conditions of providing parking facilities and sanctions of building plans from the civic authorities

In an attempt to provide relief in the sealing crisis that has taken Delhi's political scenario by the storm ahead of likely election of 20 assembly seats, where AAP MPs have been disqualified. Delhi Development Authority will increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of commercial establishments which will increase ground coverage and floors. LSCs (Local Shopping Centres) are likely to be provided more relief by the DDA. They were earlier known as shop-cum-residential areas. 

The FAR for these LSCs will be getting more FAR from 180 to 300, thereby getting more ground coverage and floors, from the earlier three stories to four. The Centre is also discussing whether to invoke "larger public interest" to reduce conversion charges. A reduction in conversion charges is intended to help traders at risk of sealing. 

The apex court-appointed monitoring committee has started the sealing drive in LSCs for misuse and non-payment of conversion charges, with fresh pressure from the court.  The Times of India reported that the DDA technical committee took up the issue of increasing FAR on Tuesday and it was cleared by the panel. 

Increasing FARcomes after an approval from the housing and urban affairs ministry as DDA is under the administration of the ministry.  Increase in FAR, however, will be subject to conditions of providing parking facilities and sanctions of building plans from the civic authorities.

The FAR of 180 allows a three-story building in areas like Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, Greater Kailash, Hauz Khas and several other localities. These areas can have four-storeyed properties if the FAR is increased to 300.

After Delhi LG Anil Baijal recently directed the authority to look for a possible solution, the DDA technical committee meeting took place. The DDA technical committee has representatives from municipal corporations and Delhi government. 

Shop owners have been demanding that the government must address anomalies in the Delhi Master Plan since the sealing drive became effective. The FAR for commercial establishments in LSCs is less than that for shops on commercial streets. The conversion fee to change the usage from residential to commercial is far higher in LSCs in comparison to the commercial streets. 

Housing and Urban Affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri held a meeting with LG Anil Baijal. DDA and municipal corporations are yet to find a concrete solution to this ongoing crisis.