GDA Adopts Amended Building By-Laws to Alleviate Parking Woes

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) board has approved amendments to building by-laws aimed at addressing parking concerns, according to officials. These amendments, initially notified by the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Urban Planning Department in November, focus on easing parking issues and imposing restrictions on the saleable floor area ratio (FAR) component.

GDA Vice-Chairperson Rajesh Kumar Singh stated that the board's decision to adopt the amended by-laws has been communicated to the state department, and the changes are now in effect. The new building map layouts reflecting these changes will soon be updated on GDA's computerized map approval system.

Key Amendments Include:

1. Stilt Parking Provision: The amended by-laws mandate the provision of stilt parking for all types of houses in the city. Stilt parking will not be considered for the calculation of purchasable FAR but will be included in the building's height measurement. This aims to address haphazard on-street parking issues.

2. Open Area Parking: Buildings may now have an open area designated for parking, with covered areas on two or more sides being added to the FAR calculation.

3. Parking Area Requirements: Specific provisions for parking area requirements have been introduced based on plot size. For plots up to 200 sqm, provisions for open area parking, covered parking, and basement parking are 23 sqm, 28 sqm, and 32 sqm, respectively.

4. Additional Provisions for Larger Plots: Plots measuring more than 200 sqm allow additional areas for mechanized parking and two-wheelers.

5. Purchasable FAR Approval: Developers must apply for purchasable FAR at the time of obtaining construction permission, with charges recovered before sanctioning the layout map.

6. Pre-Approval for Purchasable FAR: Developers need to obtain purchasable FAR beforehand, and no compounding will be allowed later. Unauthorized constructions may face demolition and legal action.

7. Room Dimensions: Minimum dimensions for residential rooms, including a second room, have been specified in the amended by-laws.

CP Tripathi, Additional Secretary at GDA, emphasized that these amendments promote planned development and deter on-road parking inconveniences. Pradeep Gupta, Chairman of the Trans-Hindon Builders Welfare Association, welcomed the changes for their potential to address parking challenges effectively.