Security Concern
Security Concern
Then again, the fire safety of any build-
ing does not depend only on the safety and
evacuation measures undertaken by the
developer and the project management
agency retained to manage the building.
The dynamics of the location and state of
the infrastructure there also play a huge
role. There need to be adequate approach
roads and avenues for fire-fighting ve-
hicles.
This can be a challenge in highly con-
gested areas with chronic traffic issues,
and it is unfortunately in such locations
where skyscrapers are sometimes the only
option for mass housing in the first place.
High-rises are here to stay
In many areas of the larger metros in rap-
idly urbanizing India, high-rises are the
only affordable option for people with
constrained budgets - and indeed, there
will usually be no options for low-rise
buildings among the fresh supply com-
ing in. Basically, high-rises allow builders
to reduce their land costs and churn out
more units on a single plot.
Skyscrapers are therefore more cost-
effective for buyers on a unit-to-unit basis.
However, indiscriminate development of
high-rises in highly densified urban areas
can also be very risky as it will invariably
lead to infrastructure-related issues - with
a direct impact on potential fire hazards.
How does RERA help here?
RERA has made it mandatory for building
plans to be approved and made available
to customers, along with all features and
amenities. In the past, the safety of build-
ings was often compromised when build-
ers developed open areas which were ini-
tially meant to be kept unused and open.
This will now become impossible under
RERA, as no changes to the original project
plans will be permitted unless two-third
of the existing property owners give their
consent for such changes.
To summarise
Much can be said about this - but to cut
a long story short, there is no substitute
for awareness and due diligence. There
are many questions that a buyer needs to
ask before buying or renting a home in a
high-rise residential building. The build-
ing’s layout plans can also be studied by a
competent expert. A lot of the guesswork
can be taken out of the process by using
the services of a reputed real estate con-
sultancy to identify the safest options.
(The writer is chairman,
Anarock Property Consultants)
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november 2018 w chromohomes
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