Gujarat planning to vertically expand its old urban areas
Government of Gujarat is planning to drastically change the skylines of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot in the coming days if the it’s proposed new policy for redeveloping of old housing colonies takes off well. To be implemented under public private partnership (PPP) mode, the policy aims to solve the problems of old “unhealthy” housing colonies in congested areas by rejuvenating them.
The government would ensure that with the redevelopment, the owners of old houses get new ones at the same place. The developers will make money through the vertical expansion of such residential and commercial properties. The sources in the department said on the policy, “Ramshackle houses in old areas of all the major cities are a major issue. Dwellers who cannot afford to move out or redevelop their houses keep living there risking their lives and property. The new policy intends to come over this problem,”
An official also pointed out, “Private developers will get special floor space index (FSI) leeway and can built extra apartments to sell and recover the cost of rebuilding an old colony. The government is checking various alternatives for financial motivation and other supporting facilities to attract private developers.” The source further added, “This will also help in controlling the horizontal expansion of cities. Moreover, the state won’t need to invest much in such projects. In addition, redevelopment will not be permitted on heritage properties but only on housing colonies only. The government can even help the residents of such colonies rent state-owned houses during the re-development.”
A major challenge up the government’s sleeve while implementing the policy is how it would deal with redeveloping illegal colonies that have been there for decades and settling the tenant rights amicably in old houses would also test government’s skills.
Source: The Times of India
Ahmedabad, Floor Space Index, FSI, Gujarat Government, PPP, Public-private partnership, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot
