33 new skyscrapers set to alter Mumbai’s skyline

There are as many as 33 under-construction skyscrapers in the city currently that are between 250 to 440 metres, which is approximately 60 to 120 floors. This could set a new record in the history of skyscrapers in the city and change the complete skyline, reveals a data release by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

According to the data compiled, it was revealed that between 2008 and 2015, 32 skyscrapers were completed in the city of which 21 skyscrapers had 35 to 50 floors (150 to 170 metres). The remaining 11 skyscrapers had 50 to 60 floors (190 to 250 metres). This makes the average height of a skyscraper constructed between 2009 and 2015 to around 160 to 190 metres.

According to the CTBUH norms, a building is classified as “supertall” if it is over 300 metres and a building is “megatall” if it is over 600 metres. The data further revealed that from 2011 till date, 33 skyscrapers have been proposed (under construction) in the city and are scheduled to be built by 2018. Nine out of the 33 skyscrapers that are going to be built will have between 50 to 60 floors and the remaining 24 skyscrapers are going to have 60 to 120 floors. This brings the average height of a proposed skyscraper to around 250 to 440 metres, which would be the highest till now.

The tallest among the 33 skyscrapers is the one at Lower Parel measuring 442 metres and is called World One by Lodha Developers. The proposed residential highrise has 117 floors and was proposed in 2010. ts construction started in 2011 and will be completed by 2018, revealed the data. The second tallest tower in the city is at Worli by Oasis Realty and is called Three Sixty West Tower B measuring 361 metres. This highrise with 90 floors was proposed in 2011 and the construction is expected to be completed by 2017.

“One of the reasons why skyscrapers’ heights have been increasing because the Floor Space Index (FSI) has been relaxed by the government in case the density of the land is less. There is no other option in the city for developers other than going taller. Other reasons why there are more skyscrapers is that because there is scope for more resources, capital investment and also the technology which helps the developers to have taller towers,” said Ajay Chaturvedi, chief executive officer, Accommodation Times.

He added, “Though it is a positive sign for the city real estate market that we build more and more tall towers, it is important for the civic authorities to think about whether they are ready to rescue people if there is a fire on the 120th floor.”