PUNE: The skyline and ground reality of congested old city area, including 17 peths and occupying a total area of over 147.85 sqkm, would change drastically if the Pune Municipal Corporation and developers make maximum use of the additional floor space indexmentioned in the new Development Control Rules.

Pune consists of maximum number of slums as housing typology, followed by bungalows and wadas. With the new Development Control Rules (DCR), the percentage of bungalows and wadas would decrease because they would be redeveloped into apartment units.

Considering the population growth in the next decade, the net area required for housing in old Pune is 3515.4 hectares. According to the development plan for the old city, the gross residential area required to cater to the future housing demand is 4745.79 hectares.

This area will reduce substantially with the implementation of new development policies introduced in the DCR — additional FSI for development of affordable housing, higher FSI for government and civic employees' housing and more FSI for the low income group housing.

The minimum FSI of 1.5 has been allotted for development in congested areas where the road width is 9 metres, while the maximum 3 FSI will be allowed for development where the road width is 30 metres and above. The metro and BRTS corridors running in mid-city will have 4 FSI.

"The face of the old city will change with the new DCR. You can expect some high-rise constructions in the next few years. Redevelopment of old dilapidated wadas will gain momentum and properties more than 30 years old will go for redevelopment to avail benefits of higher FSI," said city engineer Prashant Waghmare.

The new DCR has brought more clarity to the redevelopment of old wadas. Redevelopment of tenanted building undertaken by landlord or cooperative housing society of landlord or occupiers shall be allowed with an FSI equivalent to the rehabilitation area plus 50% incentive FSI of the rehabilitation area, states the provision. All certified tenants of the old building shall be re-accommodated in redeveloped building.

....