State government proposes 4 FSI around metro station

PUNE: The State government has proposed to give four Floor Space Index (FSI) around the proposed metro station boundary under Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy. The government has also suggested premium Floor Space Index (FSI) charges at 60 per cent of ready reckoner for residential and 75 per cent for commercial establishment development. However, developers have raised an objection on the premium charges. 

Before implementation of the code of conduct, ahead of Lok Sabha polls, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was waiting for State government’s Urban Development Department’s proposed TOD policy for Pune Metro project.

The policy was awaiting the nod from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who is also handling the Urban Development Ministry.  

The policy notification issued on March 8, 2019 has mentioned that planning authority will ensure execution of street design for the successful implementation of TOD. The planning authority will now ensure complete predestination in the TOD zones for easy movement of pedestrians, to and from the station within a period of one year from publication of regulation.

It has also stated that the TOD zone means the area of 500 metres around the proposed metro station’s boundary as it will be delineated by PMC after the approval of the State government. The maximum permissible total FSI in TOD zone will be 4.00. The government has given one month period to the public to register suggestions and objections to TOD policy.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND INTEGRATED MOBILITY PLAN
The State government has suggested conducting an Impact Assessment and Integrated Mobility Plan for such additional FSI, over and above the base permissible FSI shall be granted by the PMC commissioner where the metro rail is passing through. This will be done after taking into account the impact assessment of the implementation of policy on the city and sector level infrastructure and amenities as well as traffic and environment. 

The government also directed to include measures to be undertaken to mitigate its likely impact and the action plan for implementation of such measures in a time-bound manner. 

The amount received as scrutiny fee, hardship premium, a premium for additional FSI in TOD zone or circle, will be kept in a separate head at the municipal level and will be utilised for the development of the metro project as per directives issued by government from time to time. 

TOD WILL HELP TO DEVELOPMENT OF CITY: PMC
Prashant Waghmare, City Engineer of PMC, said, “Prima facie, the policy will help boost development of the city, but, we will have to study case to case of metro station areas and after that, we will decide to register any objection on the policy.”

He further said, “The State has fixed premium charges and the corporation will collect it. However, the State has mentioned in policy that the government will give instruction regarding share which we will have to give to Pune Metro Railway Corporation Limited.” 

DEVELOPERS UNSATISFIED OVER PREMIUM CHARGES
In Nagpur, the State government has fixed 30 and 40 per cent premium charges whereas the government has proposed 60 and 75 per cent premium charges for residential and commercial sector which is higher as compared to Nagpur. 

While speaking to Sakal Times, Satish Magar, former Chairman of CARDIA and Chairman of Nanded City Township said, “Premium charges are high and it is not affordable for any developers. It should be 50 to 60 per cent for Pune city.”

22 METRO STATIONS IN PUNE CITY
There are two corridors in the city - Vanaz to Ramwadi (14.66 km) and PCMC to Swargate (11.57 km). In the first corridor, there are 16 stations of corridor-2 (Ramwadi to Vanaz) in Pune city  whereas there are total 14 metro stations in which six stations- Range Hill, Shivajinagar, Civil Court, Budhwar Peth, Mandai and Swargate come under PMC limits.