Deccan Chronicle

Civic body’s rights deals work against own rules

TDRs given by GHMC result in tall buildings in crowded areas

- MADDY DEEKSHITH | DC

The GHMC is breaking its own rule regarding height restrictio­ns of buildings alongside narrow roads by allowing constructi­on of tall buildings via the transferab­le developmen­t right (TDR).

The height of buildings is based on the size of the land and that of the adjacent road. However, using a TDR, which is given in exchange for land acquisitio­n under certain conditions, the land can vastly increase the size of buildings. The corporatio­n has issued 400 TDRs in extremely congested areas including Himayathna­gar, Narayangud­a and Kukatpally.

The corporatio­n hit upon the policy of giving TDRs in exchange for land acquisitio­n, instead of paying money to the owners. The owner is paid by way of TDR when the property is given to the GHMC by a gift deed.

Under the policy, if an owner ‘gifts’ 1,000 square yard of road-side property to the GHMC, it gives TDR for 2,500 sq yd. The corporatio­n even allows the TDR holder to sell the rights to a builder or construct an additional structure on the land in another location.

For instance, under the GHMC rules, a ground-plusthree floor can be constructe­d on a 1,000-sq yd piece of land, but with a TDR the owner can build a six-floor constructi­on without changing the setback.

According to town planning experts, who co-ordinate with the corporatio­n, the civic body’s TDR policy was encouragin­g constructi­ons that violated the rules. They said the GHMC had neither consulted experts nor sought public opinion before implementi­ng the policy.

Experts said allowing such constructi­ons through TDR is against the urban planning policy as it would cause traffic snarls and put greater pressure on civic facilities like drainages and drinking water.

The corporatio­n has to conduct a town planning survey to check the density of buildings and vehicles they can accommodat­e. The decision to generously give TDRs has resulted in alarming increase of building heights in the old MCH area, which are mostly located beside 30feet roads. Experts said land owners who were given TDR rights were selling them to builders and taking up the constructi­on in the old MCH zone with its narrow roads. These roads cannot accommodat­e the extra vehicles that the additional floors, permitted by the TDR policy, bring in.

Builders have been using the TDR rights in the core city where the land is more expensive. It would be viable for them share the resultant flats in the ratio of 50:50.

An expert said the GHMC should give the TDR outside the core area too after conducting a comprehens­ive survey of the local conditions. The TDR should be given in relation to the size of the adjoining road in view of the pressure on civic facilities that taller buildings case.

Asked about the problems caused by TDRs, a senior GHMC official said the policy had been decided by the state government.

THE CORPORATIO­N hit upon the policy of giving TDRs in exchange for land acquisitio­n, instead of paying money to the owners. The owner is paid by way of TDR when the property is given to the GHMC by a gift deed.

DECISION TO generously give TDRs has resulted in alarming increase of building heights in the old MCH area, which are mostly located beside 30-feet roads.

BUILDERS HAVE been using the TDR rights in the core city where the land is more expensive.

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