'Most of them 50 years old': Maharashtra govt offers transfer of development rights (TDR), other sops to promote redevelopment of Mumbai airport's ‘funnel’ buildings

MUMBAI: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Wednesday announced a significant policy change regarding buildings within the airport's funnel zone that are under height restrictions. Owners/builders will receive equivalent transfer of development rights (TDR) if they cannot utilise the basic Floor Space Index (FSI) or the authorised building area due to height constraints. A funnel zone is the airspace around the airport's runways and approach paths, designed to ensure safe aircraft take-off and landing operations.
Shinde also announced in the legislative council concessions in premium charges for open space deficiencies and FSI exclusions for staircases and lifts during redevelopment of such buildings. A builder who gets TDR can use it on another plot in the city. The decisions can boost redevelopment of old buildings in Santacruz, Vile Parle, and Kurla.

Deputy CM Shinde said a specific provision has been approved in the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR-2034) to enable the redevelopment of old buildings within the airport's funnel zone with height restrictions. This would support redevelopment not only in the funnel zone but also in other affected areas within Mumbai.
Shinde said that height limitations in the funnel zone restricted building construction and redevelopment to permitted heights only. This prevented full utilisation of permissible area (Basic + Premium FSI + TDR) during redevelopment, prompting consistent requests from local residents and their representatives.
Earlier, Vile Parle MLA Parag Alavani wrote to the govt stating that many buildings in his assembly constituency face restrictions in availing height for construction, making any redevelopment project financially non-viable. Alavani had said that most of these buildings are 50 years old, and they are now beyond repair.
He urged the govt to provide special relaxation to the buildings around the airport to help their redevelopment.
The elected representatives of people were advocated for easing restrictions, pointing out that the extension of Mumbai Airport's runway. During his previous tenure as chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis had promised to address this concern following correspondence from Alavani.