BMC to allow terrace access with lift's help

Mumbai: As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to allow the accessibility of terrace with the help of lift by changing the Development Control Rules (DCR), the existing buildings, including residential, commercial and industrial, will have to seek necessary permission from the civic body to construct the lift up to the terrace, said civic officials.

“The buildings have to seek permission from the building proposal (BP) and Development Planning (DP) department. In case of existing building, prior certification regarding structural stability of the building shall have to be submitted. The precaution towards safety and security shall have to be ensured by the society/holder of the premises where the lift well opening is proposed on the terrace above topmost storey,” said a senior civic official.

There are 35,643 lifts registered in Mumbai, although it is possible that there are unregistered lifts as well.

The area of the lift well for additional floor height of lift well opening leading to at terrace level may be allowed free of Floor Space Index (FSI) with special permission of commissioner by charging premium, the official added.

As per the BMC’s Development Control Regulations, the lift is an alternate means of vertical access in addition to a staircase. The civic body’s BP department had initiated a proposal of allowing lifts up to the terrace area of the building earlier this month. On Monday, the BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta approved the proposal for allowing lifts to reach upto the terrace of a building.

INSTALLING  NEW  LIFT  IN  BUILDINGS

Non-lift buildings can install lifts in their buildings, subject to compliance of various legal parameters.  Few basic requirements are as follows:

• New lifts are allowed to be installed only on those legal buildings, which have duly approved and sanctioned plans.
• New lift installation permissions are granted only to those legal buildings that have duly been granted occupancy certificates (OC).
• No-objection certificate (NOC) in advance, is required from the fire department.
• Buildings Structural Stability Report, by a duly
• registered structural engineer.
• Latest drawings from an registered architect, proposing lift-Installation location
• Prior permission to erect new lift and consequent lift licence is to be obtained from the “inspector of lifts”