HUDA removes height restriction on buildings

Keeping in pace with the burgeoning demand for housing and planned urban and commercial development in upcoming townships in the state, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has removed the height restriction on the buildings for group housing colonies and commercial complexes.

HUDA has also decided to grant permission for four level basements in group housing, integrated and multi-story commercial buildings and IT Parks and Cyber cities.

According to the chief administrator, HUDA, T C Gupta the policies on both these issues had been framed. In view of the fact that the National Building Code (Part-IV) had de-restricted the height of the buildings and the latest technologies were available for structural design and fire fighting, the Authority had decided to remove the limit of the maximum height of the building in case of Group Housing sites, Commercial Complexes and institutional sites.

He apprised that in the case of commercial complexes, this provision would be applicable only on those sites that were governed by the zoning plans and not by the architectural controls.

Similarly, in case of institutional sites, it would be applicable on institutional plots having an area of one acre and above. Further, in case of these buildings having height 30 metres and above, clearance from the National Airport Authority of India would be required.

For the buildings more than 60 metre in height, regarding structural stability, the clearance from the recognised institutions like IITs, Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Regional Engineering College and National Institute of Technology and for the fire safety clearance from Institute of Fire Engineers Nagpur would be required.

He added that in view of increasing demand for parking and the latest technologies available for structural design, the Authority had also decided to allow four level basements for parking to facilitate the general public, in the high rise buildings of Cyber Cities, Cyber Parks, IT Parks, Group Housing sites, Commercial complexes and institutional plots. The parking of each type of buildings had also been revised.

Gupta said that the misuse of the covered parking space would immediately attract levy of three times the penalty of the composition fee prescribed for the excess covered area in the respective category.

The basement could be used for Air conditioning Handling Unit (AHU), utilities and services connected with the building and the parking spaces. No storage and commercial activity would be permitted in the designated parking areas.

In case a part of the basement was used for generator room, electric sub-station and transformer room the same would be segregated from the rest of thebasement through a masonry wall, at least 4 ½" thick.

He clarified that these instructions would come into force with prospective effect. However, the sites already sold would be governed by the provisions of the approved zoning plans of such sites.