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Floor Space Index (FSI) in Bangalore : Meaning, Calculation & Importance

Introduction

In the world of real estate, there's a term that's super important to grasp: FSI, or Floor Space Index. You might have also heard it called FAR, which stands for Floor Area Ratio. But what exactly does it mean?

What is FSI?

FSI is like a magic number that tells you how much space you're allowed to build on a piece of land. It's the ratio of the floor area you're allowed to cover compared to the total area of the land. Think of it as a limit set by the authorities to control how much you can build on a plot.

FSI Formula

let's break down the FSI formula in simple terms:

Total Area Covered by the Building: This is the total amount of space that all the floors of your building cover. Imagine if you were to look at your building from above, this is the entire area you would see.

Total Area of the Land: This is the entire area of the plot of land your building is on. It's like the whole space your property occupies, including any yards or gardens.

Now, to calculate FSI, you just need to do one thing:

FSI = Total Area Covered by the Building ÷ Total Area of the Land

So, if your building covers 500 square meters and your land is 250 square meters, the FSI would be:

FSI = 500 ÷ 250 = 2

This means your FSI is 2, which tells you that you can build up to 2 times the area of your land. It's like having two layers of building on your land if each layer covered the entire area.

Importance of FSI

Managing Space: Imagine a city like a puzzle – FSI helps fit all the buildings together properly. It prevents overcrowding and makes sure there's enough space for everything.

Keeping Cities Liveable: FSI helps balance the number of buildings with open areas like parks and playgrounds. This makes cities more enjoyable to live in, with room to breathe and relax.

Controlling Growth: Without rules like FSI, cities could grow too fast and become chaotic. FSI sets limits on how much can be built, helping cities grow in a planned and organized way.

Protecting the Environment: By limiting how much of the land can be covered with buildings, FSI helps protect nature. It ensures there are still green spaces and trees, which are important for clean air and a healthy environment.

Safety and Infrastructure: FSI takes into account things like roads, sewage systems, and emergency services. It ensures that buildings are not so dense that they overwhelm the city's infrastructure and safety measures.

In simple terms, FSI is like a traffic light for building – it tells you when to stop and how much you can build. By following FSI rules, cities can grow in a way that's safe, sustainable, and enjoyable for everyone who lives there.

Premium FSI

In simple terms, premium FSI means paying extra money to build more on a piece of land than what the rules normally allow. It's like buying a ticket for extra space – you pay more to get permission to build beyond the usual limit set by authorities. This can be useful if you need more room for your building but the regular rules don't allow it.

How to Calculate Premium FSI?

Calculating premium FSI is a bit like getting extra space for your building, but you have to pay for it. Here's how it works in simple terms:

Know Your Regular FSI: First, you need to know what your regular FSI is. This tells you the basic amount of space you're allowed to build on your land.

Figure Out How Much Extra Space You Need: Let's say you need more space than what your regular FSI allows. Maybe you want to build an extra floor or make your building bigger.

Check the Rules: Different places have different rules for getting extra space. Check with your local authorities to find out what you need to do.

Calculate the Extra Cost: Once you know how much extra space you want to build, you'll have to pay a fee for it. This fee is usually based on the area of the extra space you're adding.

Get Approval: After you've paid the extra fee, you'll need to get approval from the authorities before you can start building.

For Example,

Let's imagine you own a piece of land where you want to build a house. The rules in your area say you can build a house that covers 50% of your land, which is your regular FSI.

But you want a bigger house with more rooms. So, you decide you need to use more than 50% of your land. Here comes the premium FSI part.

You go to the local office that deals with building permits and ask about getting extra space to build. They tell you that you can get extra space, but you have to pay for it.

Let's say you want to build a house that covers 70% of your land instead of just 50%. The extra 20% of land you want to use beyond the regular limit is what you'll pay for.

The office tells you there's a fee for that extra 20%, which is based on how much land it is. Once you pay that fee, they give you the green light to build your bigger house.

So, in this example, calculating premium FSI means figuring out how much extra space you want, paying for it, and then getting permission to build your dream house.

FSI/FAR for Various Cities of India

Different cities have different rules about FSI. For example, Bangalore might have a higher FSI than a smaller town like Shimla.

Understanding FSI is crucial for anyone looking to buy or build property. It gives you a clear picture of what you can do with a piece of land and how it fits into the bigger picture of urban planning.

So, next time you hear someone talking about FSI, you'll know it's not just a bunch of letters—it's a key factor in shaping our cities and communities.

Floor Space Index (FSI) in Bangalore

In Bengaluru, there are three main types of neighbourhoods: Intensely Developed, Moderately Developed, and Sparsely Developed. These categories depend on how densely populated the area is and how much development has taken place.

The FSI (Floor Space Index) or FAR (Floor Area Ratio) is a measure that determines how much floor area can be built on a certain plot of land in relation to the size of the plot and the width of the roads nearby.

Depending on which category a locality falls into, along with the size of the plot and the width of the roads, the FSI or FAR can vary from 1.75 to 3.35. This means that in more densely developed areas, you can build more floor space compared to the plot size, while in less developed areas, the amount of floor space you can build is restricted.

Conclusion

In short, FSI (Floor Space Index) tells you how much you can build on a plot of land. It considers things like how crowded an area is, how much space is left for parks, and how it affects property values. If you need more space, you might be able to get extra with a premium FSI, but it'll cost you more. Different cities have different rules about FSI, which affects how our neighborhoods look and feel. In the end, FSI helps keep our cities balanced and livable.

FAQ’s:

What is 1.5 FSI?

- 1.5 FSI indicates that the total built-up area of a building cannot exceed 1.5 times the area of the plot.

What is 2.5 FSI?

- 2.5 FSI signifies that the total built-up area of a building can be up to 2.5 times the area of the plot.

What is FSI in Construction?

- FSI in construction refers to the ratio of the total floor area of a building to the area of the plot.

What factors does FSI depend on?

- FSI depends on factors such as local zoning regulations, population density, and environmental considerations.

Is Car Parking Included in FSI?

- Car parking inclusion in FSI calculations varies based on local regulations.

Is Balcony Included in FSI?

- Balcony inclusion in FSI calculations depends on local regulations and definitions of permissible built-up area.

What is the difference between TDR and FSI?

- Transferable Development Rights (TDR) enable developers to transfer development rights from one location to another, while FSI regulates maximum permissible construction on a given plot.