Part X Urban safety requirements

Two staircases are required in buildings whenever necessary, and they must open and terminate at the ground floor or a place of safety.

Staircases leading from the basement should be staggered at the ground floor and then diverted to upper floors.

In non-residential high-rise buildings, minimum two staircases are necessary.

Fire escape balconies must be provided for industrial buildings, not exceeding 1.5 m in width at the periphery of every floor level. They shall be kept free from obstructions and have wall type sprinklers.

Ramps shall lead directly to outside open spaces at ground level or courtyards and shall comply with the requirements of sub-regulation (4) of the regulation, just as staircases do.

Refuge areas shall be provided at every 7th habitable floor in high-rise buildings, or at 24 m or at 1st habitable floor, whichever is higher, and shall be free of FSI.

High rise buildings over 70 m tall must have fire escape chute shafts for every wing adjacent to the staircase. The walls of the shaft shall have 4 hours’ fire resistance, and the access shall be made at every floor level.

The structural design of buildings must conform to the provisions of the National Building Code of India and relevant IS codes for structural safety, seismic safety, and against cyclone/wind storms.

It is the responsibility of the structural engineer to ensure adequacy of structural design and safety of structures in natural hazard prone areas, and their instructions are binding on the owner/developer and professionals on record, including contractors engaged for the work.

Development in natural hazard prone areas, such as earthquake prone areas, cyclone prone areas, and flood prone areas, shall be regulated to ensure special protection from hazards for any type of development, irrespective of the use or zones.

For buildings with heights up to 70m, at least one accessible side at ground level must have a clear open space of 9m. If a podium is proposed, it shall not extend beyond 6m from the building line and shall have a clear open space of 9m at ground level, or 6m beyond the podium and 9m at ground level with a clear height of 4.5m for fire appliance access. No ramps for the podium shall be provided in these side open spaces.

Buildings with heights over 70m require at least two accessible sides at ground level with a clear open space of 9m. If a podium is proposed, it must adhere to the same clear open space requirements as mentioned above.

Courtyard open spaces accessible to firefighting appliances must be capable of supporting a point load of up to 10Kg/cm2.

Open spaces shall be free from obstruction and motorable.

Construction materials used in stairways, corridors, and facades must be non-combustible or fire-resistant.

Materials used for interior finishes must not have a flame spread ability rating exceeding Class I, section 3.4.15.2 and 3.4.15.3 of the National Building Code.

Every building meant for human occupancy must be provided with sufficient exits for safe escape during fires or other emergencies.

• Exits can be horizontal or vertical, such as a door, staircase, or ramp.
• Exits must provide continuous egress to the exterior or an exterior open space leading to the street.
• Exits should be free of obstruction, adequately illuminated, clearly visible, and have routes marked and signed.
• Exits may be fitted with firefighting equipment, a fire alarm device, and remain unaffected by building alterations.
• The travel distance to an exit on a floor shall not exceed specified limits based on occupancy type.
• In case of high-rise and special buildings, a minimum of two enclosed type staircases must be provided, at least one opening directly to the exterior.

The width and number of exits for various occupancies are specified in Table No. 22.

The text outlines regulations for various aspects of Mumbai's urban development.

The Lift Inspector of the Government of Maharashtra is responsible for reporting any lift accidents (ii).

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) can constitute a Parking Authority to manage and regulate parking in the city, setting fees and penalties.

Conservation of heritage sites includes maintenance, preservation, restoration, and reconstruction (1).

Heritage sites are defined as areas surrounding a building or natural site of historical, architectural, aesthetic, cultural, or natural value (1).

The regulations apply to buildings, structures, precincts, or sites listed as heritage and any draft heritage list published by the government or municipal commissioner (2).

Development or repairs of heritage buildings require approval from the Municipal Commissioner and Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee, with exceptions for religious buildings (3).

The heritage list is not part of the MR&TP Act, 1966, and can be altered or supplemented (4).

Owners of heritage structures may be entitled to Transferable Development Rights (TDR) when preserving or restoring their buildings or if development is denied and conditions are imposed (5).

The extent of TDR granted depends on the difference between the zonal FSI and the consumed building area of the heritage structure.

TDR is granted in two stages: after approval of plans and conservation, and after obtaining a completion certificate.

The owner/lessee must agree to conserve the heritage building in the prescribed manner.

The potential of the plot is permanently reduced to the extent of the existing building area.

UsesPermissible below Flyovers: Permitted uses under flyovers include gardens, parks, promenades, electricity distribution stations, municipal facilities, police stations, homeless shelters, and BEST facilities. A 1.0 m wide plantation/green space must be developed along the edge of the carriageway below the flyover.

Metro/Mono/Coastal Road Alignment Modifications: Any modifications to Metro/Mono/Coastal Road alignments or new transport corridors must be automatically added to the Development Plan. Unused Metro Car Shed land can be included in adjoining zones with a written order from the Municipal Commissioner.

Forest Land Development: Forest land development in designated Natural Areas is governed by Ministry of Environment and Forest notifications. Forest Department land for public purpose requires special permission from the Municipal Commissioner.

Temporary Constructions: The Commissioner can grant permission for temporary structures for up to three years, including for rain protection, religious functions, storage, and exhibitions. Temporary structures cannot be continued after completion of the main building.

Common Antenna for Television Transmission Reception: Every building must provide installation space for common television antennas and ducting for telecommunication and digital communication lines.

Special Purpose NOCs: Special purpose NOCs are required for specific development projects based on location and type of work. Owners/Developers/Project Proponents must comply with all NOC requirements and applicable laws.

Repairs to Existing Buildings: Structural/extensive repairs to existing buildings, approved or in existence before certain dates, are allowed without changing the footprint or planning. Additions, alterations, and extensions are not permitted under the guise of repairs. Repair guidelines and procedures are detailed in Appendix IV.

Developments must provide treated waste water for gardening, toilets, landscaping, irrigation, cooling towers, and car washing, but not for drinking, bathing, or washing clothes and utensils.

Waste water output quality must meet non-potable water standards as prescribed by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

A clause in the purchase agreement requires the purchaser to maintain the recycled waste water system in good condition as per MPCB requirements.

Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and disposal systems must be provided for development/redevelopment projects that require environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).

STPs must be compact, odour-free, and require minimal monitoring, producing non-potable water for specified uses.

Solid waste management requires separate bins for dry, wet, and hazardous waste, as well as provisions for treating wet waste in situ.

Developments with 20,000 sq.mt of total construction area must provide a Bio-degradable Waste Treatment Plant.

Tree plantation is required to preserve existing trees and plant new ones, with provisions for growth and fire safety.

Regulations for development in Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) are governed by the amended CRZ Notification.

Developments subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must comply with EIA Notification conditions and are responsible for obtaining necessary NOCs/permits.

RWH structures should not endanger building stability or cause dampness in walls or foundations.

Collected water should primarily be used for non-drinking, non-cooking purposes; exceptions for drinking/cooking require proper filtering and purification.

Solar Water Heating (SWH) Systems are mandatory in hospitals and hotels due to continuous hot water requirements, with auxiliary electrical back-up.

SWH Systems are recommended for guest houses, police/army barracks, canteens, laboratories, schools/colleges, and other institutions with intermittent hot water needs; electrical backup is optional.

SWH Systems can also be installed in other buildings, with roof load capacity of 50 kg/sq.m and open sunny roof area.

Solar energy collectors should face south, with an inclination equal to the local latitude for regular use or latitude+15 degrees for winter use.

New buildings must have installed hot water lines from the roof top and insulated distribution pipelines to each point requiring hot water.

Waste water recycling and reuse is mandatory for certain developments/redevelopments per MoEF notifications; recycling system should not cause nuisance or hazard, be designed for occupancy load and seasonal fluctuations, and separate plumbing networks should be installed for kitchen/bathroom waste water leading to a recycling plant.