BMC pushes for yoga centres in residential buildings

In a bid to promote yoga and fitness among people, the civic body has allowed construction of yoga centres in residential premises by proposing FSI free plan up to 200 sq mt in Development Control Regulations (DCR) of the new Development Plan for the metropolis.
DCR drafted in the revised Development Plan of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was presented by Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta on April 27 and its details were uploaded at the civic body's website two days ago.
"In every residential building, either existing or constructed or proposed to be constructed or proposed co- operative housing society or an Apartment Owners Association, a yogalaya or fitness centre, including toilet facilities, will be permitted," said the draft policy.

Floor space index (FSI) is the ratio of the total built up area to the size of the plot. It typically indicates how high a developer can build a structure on a plot.
Explaining the modalities of the proposal, if approved by the Urban Development Department, a senior civic officer said, "Such fitness centres (or yogalays) would be completely owned and governed by the housing society or the residents' association. However, builders can also apply with BMC to construct yogalays but he would have to give the possession to the housing society only."
"The area of a yogalaya will be free of FSI and it would be equivalent to 2 per cent of the total built-up area of the project or of every building condition. But it would not be less than 20 sq metres and not more than 200 sq metres per project or building," he said.

The yogalaya or fitness centre shall be exclusively for the members of the housing society concerned or an Apartment Owners Association, which would also have the ownership of the premises, as per the DCR.
Asked wouldn't builders charge for these proposed yoga centres? Mehta said, "The common facilities are to be handed over to housing society and cannot be given to individual flat holders.