Balconies disappear from Mumbai homes, turning into a luxury amenity
Balconies, once considered a defining feature of middle-class family homes in Mumbai, are now gradually disappearing from new flats. Rapid redevelopment in the city and Floor Space Index (FSI) rules have turned open space into an expensive facility. The situation is such that people buying small and medium-sized flats are now having to accept homes without balconies.
Costs rose after 2012 rules. In Mumbai, after changes in rules in 2012, balconies began to be included in FSI calculations. As a result, builders have to use part of the available construction area even to build a balcony. Earlier, balconies were kept outside FSI up to a prescribed limit. After the new provisions, builders began avoiding balconies in smaller flats or making them very small.
Small homes are getting the least space. According to architects, providing a balcony in small flats of 350 to 450 square feet becomes costly for both buyers and builders because of current property prices. In comparison, flats of 800 to 1,000 square feet or larger are more likely to have balconies. Experts estimate that only about 20 percent of Mumbai’s new residential projects are offering balcony facilities.
Demand for balconies rose after the coronavirus pandemic. During the pandemic and lockdown, people closely felt the importance of open space at home. Since then, demand for flats with balconies has increased. Some builders have now started offering balcony options even in smaller homes, but buyers have to pay an additional price for them. In a residential project in Kanjurmarg, the price of a 2BHK flat with a 40-square-foot balcony is said to be more than Rs 10 lakh higher than the option without a balcony.
Demand is growing for changes in rules. Architects suggest that the BMC could consider options such as counting balconies in half FSI instead of including them fully in FSI. This would make it relatively cheaper for builders to provide balconies, and ordinary buyers would also get open space at home. Experts believe that a balcony is not merely an additional amenity, but an important part of natural light, ventilation and private open space in a densely populated city like Mumbai.
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