Architect objects to reduction in open space in proposed DCR

Nagpur: An architect has strongly objected to the proposal of town planning department to reduce the share of open spaces in the city in the proposed development control rules (DCR). As per the proposal, the percentage of open space in a layout should be 10% of the total area. At present it is 15%.
Rajesh Jaiswal has submitted an objection stating the National Building Code of India (NBC) stipulates that any layout or sub-division of land measuring 0.3 hectare or more should have 15% open space. The architect stressed that this figure has been arrived at after a detailed study of urban environment in India.
He stressed that layout open spaces improve physical and psychological health, strengthen the communities, and make cities and neighbourhoods more attractive places to live and work in. Any reduction in the open space will seriously affect the quality of life, he added.
Also, the proposed DCR has defined a service apartment as a premises, other than a lodge or hotel, in which furnished rooms or a suite of rooms are let out on short or long term basis.
Jaiswal has stated that lodging or rooming houses, residential hotels, service apartments are classified as residential buildings. All the uses mentioned above operated as business offer same type of services. However, there is increasing tendency among plot owners and hoteliers to classify hotel and lodges as service apartment because of various discriminatory benefits being available to these apartments.
Lodging, boarding and residential hotels are permitted only in residential zones R1 on road having width of 9 meter and above and residential zones R2 on roads having width of 12 meter and above, respectively. However, there is no such restriction for service apartments.
Even the present DCR for Nagpur permits service apartment in residential zone R1, because of which many so-called hotels are operating as service apartments and disturbing the peace of residential areas, Jaiswal said, adding a classic example of this is Ramdaspeth area.