BMC allows rooftop restaurants, with riders

Responding to a long-standing demand, additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said restaurateurs can now get approval for rooftop outlets if the eating house has a constructed structure measuring 300 sq ft and the rest of the terrace is used for seating, and if the terrace is part of the computed FSI of the building.

“Restaurateurs who have balance FSI, apart from the 300 sq ft structure, can run the business on terraces subject to this condition. Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte has given permission to execute this policy,” Mhaiskar said.

The additional municipal commissioner added that one such licence had already been issued for a rooftop hotel in the eastern suburbs.

Mhaiskar said, “Restaurateurs in the suburbs who do not have balance FSI for a rooftop outlet can purchase TDR to benefit from the decision, although this may not be possible in the island city.”

She added, “We are considering recovering a premium from them for permission. We have not yet taken a decision on this yet.”

The additional municipal commissioner said the policy also demanded that restaurants acquire permission from housing societies for running the business.

According to a member of National Restaurateurs’ Association of India, over 500 rooftop restaurants run illegally in the city. Mhaiskar said the corporation will conduct checks to identify illegal outlets. “Strict action will be taken against these establishments,” she said.

Riders

Restaurateurs can get approval if the

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