BMC May Cut Parking Norms for Airport-Area Star Hotels by 50%

Mumbai- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is considering a proposal to reduce mandatory parking requirements by up to 50% for star-category hotels located near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

The move involves amendments to the Development Control and Promotion Regulations 2034 under provisions of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. If approved, the revised norms would apply to hotels within a 2-kilometre radius of the airport, subject to conditions such as restoring full parking requirements if the building’s usage changes in the future.

Currently, parking provisions are calculated based on total built-up area, including spaces like lobbies, corridors, and banquet halls. Industry stakeholders argue that these norms are outdated and often result in underutilised parking facilities, especially in areas where public transport and app-based mobility reduce reliance on private vehicles.

Civic officials said the proposal was formulated after discussions with industry representatives, highlighting challenges posed by aviation-related height restrictions that limit the construction of multi-level podium parking near airports.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism from legal and urban planning experts. Concerns have been raised that reducing parking capacity could worsen traffic congestion during peak periods, such as large events or high airport traffic, potentially leading to vehicles spilling onto public roads.

Experts have also flagged possible environmental and regulatory hurdles, noting that changes to urban planning norms typically require detailed impact assessments. Without such evaluations, the proposal could face legal scrutiny.

The suggested amendments are expected to be reviewed by the BMC’s improvements committee. If cleared, they will be opened for public feedback before being sent to the state’s urban development department for final approval.