Why India Doesn’t Build Skyscrapers

Summary

Despite its booming population and economy, India, particularly Mumbai, struggles to build skyscrapers due to strict building codes and infrastructure challenges. The Floor Space Index (FSI) limits vertical growth, with Mumbai's FSI far lower than major cities like New York and Hong Kong. This restriction, combined with power outages and water access issues, forces cities to expand horizontally, driving up land costs and overcrowding. While recent FSI adjustments hint at change, urban planners argue that loosening these restrictions and improving infrastructure could address the housing crisis and enable more sustainable urban development in India's rapidly growing cities.

Takeaways

• 😀 India has some of the most highly populated cities in the world but lacks the skyscrapers seen in neighboring countries like China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
• 😀 The country’s economic growth and population density are high, but Mumbai's skyline remains relatively short compared to other major cities.
• 😀 Mumbai, located on a peninsula, faces space constraints that could typically lead to vertical development, but it lags behind in skyscraper construction.
• 😀 One key reason for the lack of skyscrapers is a building code called the Floor Space Index (FSI), which limits the amount of floor space developers can build based on land size.
• 😀 Mumbai's FSI was just 1.3 in 1991, much lower than cities like New York, where it averages 15, and other Asian cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo.
• 😀 The FSI in Mumbai and other cities in India has only recently been slightly increased, from 1.3 to a range of 2.5-5, though it’s still far below international standards.
• 😀 The low FSI is intended to manage density and limit overcrowding, but urban planners argue it doesn’t effectively control population distribution.
• 😀 A consequence of low FSI is the high cost of land and housing in cities like Mumbai, where the limited available space increases prices.
• 😀 Urban sprawl, driven by the low FSI, leads to increased infrastructure demands, such as roads and utilities, which further complicates city planning and causes more emissions.
• 😀 Increasing the FSI could alleviate overcrowding and reduce housing prices, but would require simultaneous investments in mass transportation and infrastructure improvements.
• 😀 The general population has reservations about high-density buildings, associating skyscrapers with poor infrastructure and lack of green spaces, but there is growing support for taller buildings if infrastructure improves.

Q & A

Why does Mumbai have fewer skyscrapers compared to other Asian cities?

Mumbai has fewer skyscrapers due to a combination of factors, including geographical constraints, limited infrastructure, and a low floor space index (FSI) that restricts the amount of space that can be developed vertically.

What role does the floor space index (FSI) play in limiting skyscraper development in India?

The FSI is a government-mandated building code that limits the amount of floor space a developer can construct on a plot of land. Lower FSI numbers, such as Mumbai's 1.3, restrict vertical development, encouraging horizontal expansion instead.

How does Mumbai's FSI compare to other major cities like New York and Hong Kong?

Mumbai's FSI of 1.3 is significantly lower than cities like New York (15), Hong Kong (12), and Singapore (25), which allow much more vertical development due to higher FSI values.

What are some of the key infrastructure challenges that affect skyscraper construction in Mumbai?

Mumbai faces frequent power outages, limited access to clean water, and transportation bottlenecks, all of which complicate the support needed for high-rise buildings and contribute to the city's struggle to build vertically.

Why do some cities with high population density still have low-rise buildings instead of skyscrapers?

Cities like Mumbai have low-rise buildings because of restrictive FSI regulations, inadequate infrastructure to support skyscrapers, and political efforts to limit urban expansion and population density.

How do building codes like the FSI impact land affordability in Mumbai?

The FSI limits the amount of buildable space, leading to higher demand for the limited land available. As a result, land prices increase, making housing more expensive, especially in urban centers like Mumbai.

What was the FSI in Mumbai until 2022, and how has it changed since then?

Until 2022, Mumbai had an FSI of just 1.3, which was very restrictive. In 2022, the FSI was slightly increased to a range between 2.5 and 5, allowing for some vertical development.

How does India’s urban sprawl relate to the country's skyscraper limitations?

India's limited vertical development due to low FSI results in horizontal sprawl, as cities like Mumbai expand outward to accommodate growing populations, leading to more roads, higher emissions, and a lack of efficient public transportation.

What are some of the consequences of Mumbai’s low FSI and limited skyscraper development?

The low FSI and limited skyscraper development in Mumbai lead to affordability issues, overcrowding, and the spread of informal settlements. It also prevents the city from optimizing its space and infrastructure for a rapidly growing population.

What solutions do urban planners suggest to address Mumbai’s housing crisis?

Urban planners suggest increasing the FSI to allow for taller buildings, along with significant investments in transportation, infrastructure, and green spaces to better manage the city’s population density and housing demand.