Hyderabad: After many decades, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is finally updating its building rules. The new building bylaws were presented at the SCB meeting held on Tuesday. These updates include dividing the Cantonment area into zones, setting new rules for setbacks, and placing limits on Floor Space Index (FSI) with some exceptions. The main goal of these changes is to stop illegal constructions in the area.
The last time these building rules were created was in 1935. In 2017, SCB had sent a revised version for approval after getting the Board’s permission. However, it didn’t move forward for unknown reasons. Later, the Ministry of Defence sent a draft model and asked the SCB to create the bylaws based on a report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
According to SCB officials, the new bylaws include clear steps for getting building plan approvals and rules on how and when construction should start and finish. They also include zoning guidelines, rules for setbacks, and FSI restrictions. There are also special rules to prevent illegal buildings, such as allowing the mortgage of built-up areas. Other important additions include rules for different types of housing and buildings like row houses, group housing, institutional buildings, and commercial buildings.
A senior SCB officer explained that the Cantonment area will be divided into four zones. Zone I will include the notified civil area and residential areas with narrow roads (9 to 12.2 meters wide) and will be high-density residential zones. Zone II will cover areas used for mixed purposes with roads between 12.2 and 18.3 meters wide.
Zone III will include lands not in Zone I or II, such as Old Grant Bungalows and leased lands outside the notified civil area. These will be low-density zones with restricted construction, following the Cantonment Land Administrative Rules of 2021. Zone IV will cover lands next to major roads wider than 18.3 meters and will be areas with high commercial potential.
The officer also explained how existing illegal constructions will be handled. For buildings constructed without approval or with violations in the approved plans, owners can apply to the Cantonment Board to “compound” the structure. This means they may be allowed to legalize it by paying a fee. However, this option will only be available after the Central Government approves the new bylaws.
