TDR norms to give infrastructure development a fillip

TDR norms to give infrastructure development a fillip
The new Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) framed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will give infrastructure development in the city the deserved boost
The TImes of India


The new TDR norms launched by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike seek to give real estate developers having deviation in their properties, a shot in the arm. Under the new rules, the property owners who have building deviations can regularize these deviations by purchasing the Development Rights Certificate (DRC) from anybody whose land is being acquired for road widening works of the BMP. TDR will also permit an additional Floor area ration (FAR) to owners of land acquired for road widening and other such purposes. With the implementation of TDR, the city corporations are empowered to relax building bye-laws to benefit property owners and the task of land acquisition is made easier.
The city has been divided into A, B and C zones based on the value of the property in that neighbourhood. For example, prime property in Palace Road would come under zone A while property in far away suburban Bellary Road would be classified under zone C. "Earlier, the rules had restricted owners of DRCs in zones B or C from selling it to property owners in zone A," informed N Jayaram, Joint Commissioner - Enforcement, BMP. "One of the major modifications approved by the State Government is that if a property in C zone has been acquired, then the owner with the help of DRC can build more on his or her property in zones A or B or sell it to someone who can use the DRC for his buildings in the two zones."
According to Jayaram the earlier rules governing issuing of DRCs to property owners whose land had approach roads with a width of 30 feet has been increased to 40 feet.
All this means that the DRC obtained after surrendering the property can be used anywhere within the ambit of the local planning authority.
The BMP has also explored the possibility of applying TDR in acquiring land for road widening works in major arterial roads in the city. Of these, Nrupathunga Road, Avenue Road and Seshadri Road, have been earmarked for the initiative. Work on Hosur Road is in its last stages of development after land acquisition.
Owners whose property falls along the road alignment developed by BMP will have to give up some or all of the land as demanded by the BMP. In return, they will be given a DRC, which will state the floor area ratio (FAR) in square metres that they are entitled to use in any other location in the city that falls under the BMP jurisdiction.
What is TDR?
TDR means making available certain amount of additional built up area in lieu of the area relinquished or surrendered by the owner of the land, so that he can use extra built up area either himself or transfer it to another in need of the extra built up area for an agreed sum of money.
Purpose of TDR is to simplify the complicated, costly and time-consuming process of land acquisition in urban areas for public purpose especially for road widening, parks and play grounds, schools etc