New UDCPR’s parking norms may promote public transport

 

 

 

 

IF ONE has a look at the chapter devoted to parking aspect in new Unified Development Control and Promotions Regulations (UDCPR) then one would realise that some changes have been made so that one should try to use public transport more. Wherever a property is to be developed or redeveloped, parking spaces at the scale laid down in these Regulations shall be provided. A parking plan showing the parking spaces along with manoeuvring spaces/ aisles shall be submitted as a part of building plan. When additions are made to an existing building, the new parking requirements will be reckoned with reference to the additional space only and not to the whole of building but this concession shall not apply where the use is changed.

 

The parking spaces include parking spaces in basements or on a floor supported by stilts, podium or on upper floors, covered or uncovered spaces or in separate building in the plot and / or lock up garages. The height of the stilt shall not be less than 2.4 m. from the bottom of beam. In case of stack parking, height up to 4.5 m. may be allowed. Surprisingly, on one hand various health bodies and even Government is promoting cycle but new UDCPR has not kept parking space for cycle. The new UDCPR makes it clear that off street parking space must have adequate vehicular access to a street and the area shall be exclusive of drives, aisles and such other provisions required for adequate manoeuvring of vehicles. The width of drive for motor vehicles and scooter, motor cycle shall be minimum 3 m. and 2 m. respectively. The composite parking of vehicles like one car with two scooters may be allowed. Also, six scooters' parking may be allowed to be converted in one car parking.

 

In such cases, drives or aisles shall be required taking into consideration entire composite parking. Considering rising number of school bus or private group transport system, the UDCPR has made a special provision for Bus bay for schools/ multiplex /malls/ assembly buildings / group housing. For these occupancies, being a special building, a bus bay of required size shall be provided within premise or along main road on which plot abuts. This shall be applicable for housing scheme having more than 500 flats.With these modifications the ramps for parking in basement are made mandatory. To meet the parking requirements as per these regulations, common parking area for group of buildings, open or multi-storeyed, may be allowed in the same premises. In addition to the parking spaces provided for building of Mercantile (Commercial) like office, market, departmental store, shopping mall and building of industrial and storage, loading and unloading spaces shall be provided at the rate of one space for each 1000 sq. m. of floor carpet area or fraction thereof exceeding the first 200 sq. m. of floor area, shall be provided. The space shall not be less than 3.75 m. x 7.5 m.

 

However, in case of office building, such parking spaces shall not exceed more than 4. For the first time there is a provision made for visitor’s parking. Secondly the parking is allowed for limited number of vehicles in the building. Parking more than 50% over and above stipulated shall be liable for payment of charges at the rate of 10% of land rate mentioned in the ASR without taking into account guidelines therein. Such charges shall be recovered on the area covered under car / scooter parking over and above the requirement. However, for public semipublic, hotel, hospital, educational buildings, such charges shall not be leviable. According to experts, this step has been taken to compel people to go for public transport. One more addition is made in UDCPR, as it has allowed Mechanical/ Hydraulic / Stack parking/ multi-storeyed parking with or without car lift.

 

Meeting to finalise Gaothan and PU issue regarding NMRDA A HIGH-LEVEL meeting is likely to be held on Thursday regarding finalising the Appendix L of 2018 regarding gaothan limit and clarity about leaving Public Utility (PU) space as far as Nagpur is concerned. Some senior officers from Mantralaya would either come to Nagpur to brief or senior officers of NMRDA including Sheeta Ugale-Teli, Chairperson, Rajendra Lande, Joint Director of Town Planning and some other officials will go to Mumbai to attend meeting with Chief Minister, who heads who heads NMRDA. This meeting is taking place for the first time since this Government came to power. Earlier there used to be monthly meetings.

 

This meeting will be last chance where the Gaothan issue can be rectified. It was cleared in the Development Control Promotion Regulations (DCPR) of 2018. NMRDA was declared planning authority of 750 villages around nagpur, out of which only 9 villages come under growth sector. Almost 50% area under growth sector has already been developed/ sanctioned. According to experts, there is no use of more staff only to monitor the development of nine villages. Vikas Thakre, MLA and newly appointed Trustee of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) told ‘The Hitavada’, he would take up the issue of Gaothan and leaving public utility land space with the Minister and get it turned in favor of Nagpur.