BDA preparing plan for multi-storey parking lots

BDA preparing plan for multi-storey parking lots

The Hindu

Proposal pending approval of the Chief Minister

BANGALORE: Realising that parking space in the city is at a premium, the master plan being developed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) provides for constructing several multi-storey parking lots around residential areas.

In the proposal, which is pending approval of the Chief Minister, the BDA is planning to offer apartment complexes the option of reserving parking spaces in these lots instead of providing them in the apartment complex itself, officials in the Government say.

An official said that the BDA would probably charge building owners and individuals up to Rs. 7,000 per site per year. "Those details are yet to be decided," he said.

"Most builders show parking lots in the plan but later do not include it in the construction. This proposal will deter them from cheating the city planners," says S. Vennila, an urban developer.

The master plan that provides for planned growth till 2015 has divided the city into several zones.

However, instead of maintaining separate commercial and residential sites, the master plan proposes to integrate the different types of structures in the different zones. "The master plan seeks to develop a vertical sprawl instead of horizontal one and is flexible about the zones," says the official.

So instead of high-rise buildings, the master plan seeks to encourage two-storey buildings. Ideally, it wishes for constructors to establish commercial structures in the ground floor and residential structures in the floor above that.

Revitalisation of the older parts of town such as Cottonpet, Chikpet, Malleswaram and Shivaji Nagar are proposed in the plan. As most of these areas have become commercial centres over the years, the plan proposes to give an initiative to any individual or organisation that plans to give up residences, hospitals and schools in the area for commercial development.

Widening of roads to improve motorability and commercial viability in the older parts of towns is also proposed under the master plan.

An initiative being proposed to individuals to give up part of their lands for the road-widening effort is the transfer of development rights (TDR).

Under this scheme, individuals who give up part of their land can benefit from increased floor area ratio in the remaining of their plot as well as get benefit from 150 per cent increase of TDR given in the form of a certificate.

In addition as an incentive, land measuring 150 per cent of the 100 square metre will be given as a TDR certificate to the individual. This initiative is being proposed as an alternative to providing compensation to individuals."We are planning to offer these initiatives to speed up development works," the official said.