A Novel Construction Violation

In the street next to ours, the owner of a vacant plot (measuring about 65’ x 130’) decided to hand over the plot to a developer. The intention, of course, was to construct a 5-storey (ground + 4) apartment building.

Some neighbours got wind of this, and they informed the rather active residents’ welfare association, which questioned the owner. The area currently has no high-rise buildings, and such buildings are not permitted because the road must be a certain minimum width–which this one is not.

To combat this, the owner hit upon a novel idea. Because the road width is just 1 or 2 feet shy of the stipulated minimum (to permit a 5-storey building), he pushed his boundary wall in by a foot or so, making the road the “required width” only for the width of this plot! When the neighbours questioned him again, he brought in a (corrupt) surveyor from the local municipal body who, of course, certified that the street width met the specifications and that a 5-storey building was indeed permissible!

The residents’ welfare association went to court, and the court ruled that this was a ridiculous way to measure the road width. Needless to say, the developer no longer finds it attractive or viable to construct a building with fewer floors, so he has backed out of the deal! Serves the owner right 🙂