Panel mulls raising floor area ratio of industrial plots in Chandigarh

The UT Administration is considering increasing the floor area ratio (FAR) from 0.75 to 1.5 for industrial plots.

To carry out major reforms, UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria had constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer Nishant Kumar Yadav last month. The committee includes 11 other members belonging to various departments of the Administration, including the Chief Architect and the Chief Engineer.

One of the major reforms under consideration is an increase in the permissible FAR for industrial plots. Mandated to rationalise existing FAR allowed in the Industrial Area Phase I and Phase II, the committee was considering to increasing it to 1.5, said officials.

The FAR dictates the maximum permissible total floor area of a building relative to the size of its plot.

Industry representatives have been pressing for a substantial easing of FAR norms, saying that the current restriction of 0.75 made most industrial operations economically unviable. They pointed out that neighbouring industrial hubs such as Mohali, Panchkula, Dera Bassi, Barwala and Baddi operate with FAR levels ranging between 2.5 and 3.

“We welcome the UT Administration’s initiatives following discussions with the Centre’s Task Force. Increasing the FAR to at least 2 would be a step in the right direction, but its impact on the industry hinges on logical pricing. Neighbouring states offer free additional FAR up to 1.25 and charge reasonable rates (up to Rs 200/sq ft) beyond 1.25,” said Naveen Manglani, vice-president and spokesman, Chamber of Chandigarh Industries.

Manglani also urged the Administration to revisit activity norms in industrial areas. “Given the evolving business landscape and MSMED Act provisions allowing services alongside manufacturing, we request flexibility in permitted activities to boost industry growth,” he said.

Another key objective of the reform exercise is to replace architectural controls with zoning regulations for industrial plots measuring up to 2 kanal. Currently, plots up to 2 kanal are governed by architectural controls, while larger plots follow zoning regulations.

Alongside reforms in the existing industrial areas, the committee will examine and finalise the planning parameters of the Industrial Area, Phase III, with respect to internal road widths. During a meeting recently, the committee also discussed that the FAR of the Industrial Area, Phase III, could be decided on the basis of road width, stated the officials. Located near villages Raipur Kalan and Mauli Jagran, land for Phase III was acquired in 2003.

Tasked to adopt a flexible zoning framework that allows for mixed-use development activities, the committee has been asked to define the list of permissible activities and non-permissible activities for different land uses in context of the Chandigarh Master Plan-2031 and implemented layout plans. The committee will also examine allowing mixed land use for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zones.

To amend building regulations to reduce land loss in commercial plots, the committee will review building regulations such as FAR, parking space, ground coverage percentage, height restrictions and open space requirements.