Mumbai, Feb. 5 -- The Maharashtra Government has proposed increasing the height limit for high-rise buildings from 120m to 180m, pending approval from the BMC's Technical Committee. Currently, a 120m structure accommodates around 40 floors, but with the proposed change, buildings could rise between 50 to 60 floors. The move has been welcomed by the real estate industry, which sees it as a step towards easing approvals and optimizing urban space.

Faster Approvals, Streamlined Development

Prashant Sharma, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra called the proposal a "welcome move" that will significantly streamline the approval process for tall buildings in Mumbai. "By reducing bureaucratic hurdles, this change will accelerate project timelines, enhance ease of doing business, and contribute to the city's vertical growth in a more efficient manner," he added. He further emphasised that vertical development is the key to meeting rising housing demand. "It is essential that robust structural safety norms and regulatory oversight remain in place to ensure sustainable and resilient urban development," he recommended.

Sustainability & Smart Space Utilisation

Developers see the proposal as an opportunity for efficient land use and sustainability. "Taller buildings contribute to sustainability by optimising land use, reducing urban sprawl, and enhancing energy efficiency," said Samyak Jain, Director, Siddha Group.

Shraddha Kedia-Agarwal, Director, Transcon Developers added, "Allowing taller buildings presents a tremendous opportunity to make smarter, more efficient use of space, which is essential for sustainable development. By optimizing available space, we can guide the city's growth in a way that is both effective and environmentally responsible."

Infrastructure & Safety Considerations

"The proposal to raise Mumbai's high-rise height limit to 180 meters presents an exciting opportunity for urban growth. However, this must be accompanied by robust infrastructure upgrades-spanning transportation, water supply, and waste management-to effectively support higher density. Equally crucial is a strong focus on sustainability in both design and construction to minimize environmental impact," cautioned Rohan Khatau, Director, CCI Projects. He also stressed the need for safety regulations to address the complexities of taller structures.

Boosting Mumbai's Skyline & Real Estate Growth

Industry leaders, including Nishant Deshmukh (Sugee Group), Govind Krishnan Muthukumar (Tridhaatu Realty), and Abhishek Jain (SDPL), believe that taller buildings will enhance Mumbai's skyline.

Govind Krishnan Muthukumar, Managing Director & Co-founder, Tridhaatu Realty said, "It opens up new opportunities to craft innovative, spacious, and sustainable developments that enhance the living experience while contributing to the city's growth and skyline." While Abhishek Jain, COO, Satellite Developers Private Limited (SDPL) called the proposal a unique opportunity. He said, "This presents a unique opportunity to create enhanced living and working spaces that are thoughtfully designed to elevate the lifestyles of our customers, while also meeting their demand for modern, spacious, and sustainable buildings." Nishant Deshmukh, Founder and Managing Partner of Sugee Group added, "It opens the door to creating more premium residential developments that align with our commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and delivering projects on time. This is a significant step towards shaping a more spacious, sustainable, and modern Mumbai."

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.