Debate on regulation stalls realty projects

This is one comedy of errors no one is laughing about. Construction activity has come to a standstill thanks to the interpretation issues pertaining to the new set of laws introduced after the merger of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) areas with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

With the gestation period for projects in the newly merged areas in western Ahmedabad increasing, rising material costs have been taking a toll on the projects, cry developers.

The Gujarat Institute of Civil Engineers and Architects (GICEA), an apex body of civil engineers and architects, has written to the AMC seeking clarifications regarding several laws.

"There are several clauses in the General Development Regulation Control (GDCR) which apply separately to areas under AUDA and AMC. Even after merging the areas under AUDA into AMC, the latter has been applying old clauses whimsically," said a member of GICEA requesting anonymity.

According to developers, for instance, AMC has been insisting on providing 20 per cent of parking space open to sky, which otherwise is not necessary.

"The misinterpretation has virtually left us with only 50 per cent of constructable area after adhering to the clauses related to parking space. There are other laws pertaining to margin area and FSI (floor space index) for star hotels levied by AMC which are not mentioned in the GDCR. Many of us have literally stalled our projects till these issues are resolved," said a real estate developer.

The corporation, on the other hand, stands firm on its decision. "The measures have been taken keeping the future circumstances in mind. With traffic increasing by the day, we are asking the developers to follow stricter parking norms. However, they want to avoid adhering to these norms and capitalise on whatever constructable area they can lay their hands on," retorted UC Padiya, deputy municipal commissioner of AMC.

Reportedly, the increase in gestation period has seen a rise in material costs by nearly 30 per cent.