India, July 20 -- Five days remain for feedback on Mumbai's new "iconic buildings" policy before the BMC proceeds to put the idea into action. An idea that was sown around three years ago-which HT first reported about on October 1, 2022-it aims to encourage structures of "architectural excellence" in the city, offering extra FSI as the carrot.

Respecting its intent, the policy has nonetheless raised the eyebrows of a few eminent urban planners, architects and cultural doyens of the city. What if the attempt to draw interesting buildings on Mumbai's skyline distorts its already present iconic structures and neighbourhoods, they ask.

"Mumbai urgently requires a skyline review process-a body that evaluates how proposed structures affect si...