Maharashtra govt increases FSI for Mumbai hotels

According to a report in Hindustan Times, Maharashtra's urban development department has allowed an increase in the Floor Space Index (FSI) to five for Mumbai’s five-star hotels. As a result, these hotels can be turned into 40-50 storey skyscrapers. The notification, which was issued earlier in May 2009, has modified the control rules to hike FSI in exchange for 25 per cent of the Ready Reckoner rate or Rs 6,000 per sq. mtr. paid to the government. The FSI for four-star hotels will be four and one-to three-star hotels will be three. In Mumbai’s suburbs, FSI has been raised uniformly to three, along with 0.5 Transferred Development Rights (TDR).

According to a government report, FSI hike will be allowed only after a committee under the Municipal Commissioner has examined the infrastructure facilities available for such a hike. The government wants hotels to reserve five per cent of their rooms for a month every year for its use