Additional FAR to cost city schools more

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14

Availing of the benefit of floor-area ratio (FAR) will cost more to the education institutions as a panel headed by the MC Commissioner has recommended linking the new rates with the prevailing collector rates of the area.

While the UT Administration has allowed more FAR for the education institutions, the rates are yet to be fixed. The Administration has formed a panel to recommend the fee to be charged for additional FAR.

The floor-area ratio (FAR) is the ratio of the total area of the building’s floor to the area of land it is built on. In Chandigarh, FAR for private school is fixed at 0.50.

Sources said the panel has recommended levying the fee, linking it with collector rates and submitted a report to the Administration.

After the rates are approved by the UT Administration, the schools can enhance FAR from 0.50 to 0.75.

Meanwhile, HS Mamik, president, Independent Schools’ Association (ISA), said: “Any unreasonable hike will not benefit the schools .The Administration should allow the schools to use the additional FAR as per their requirement.”

He said they had raised the issue before the Administration. Currently, FAR for private schools is the lowest in the city. In Mohali and Panchkula, FAR is 1, which is the maximum that a school can achieve. There are more than 100 private schools across the city.

A private school owner said the schools needed more space for accommodating students and providing them with better facilities.