In a move aimed at promoting industrial development, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has approved amendments to its 2008 building bylaws, easing floor area ratio (FAR) and ground coverage norms for industrial buildings, especially those operated by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as reported by Hindustan Times.
The changes, which were officially adopted during the GDA’s recent board meeting, are intended to support capital-intensive projects and align with the Centre’s “Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment,” according to GDA officials.
“These revised bylaws will enable more planned industrial development and accommodate the need for vertical expansion,” said Rudresh Shukla, GDA’s media coordinator. “We’ve increased ground coverage and provided a higher FAR to ease construction restrictions for MSMEs.”
Under the new provisions, ground coverage has been raised to between 65% and 80%, depending on plot size—up from the previous 55% to 60%. For example, industrial units on plots up to 500 square meters can now use 80% of the land for building coverage. On larger plots, such as those exceeding 10,000 square meters, coverage has increased from 55% to 65%.
FAR limits have also been increased from the previous range of 1.0–1.5 to 1.5–2.0, giving units more flexibility to build vertically. Additionally, in new or undeveloped areas, flatted factories and MSMEs will be eligible to purchase 1.0 FAR over and above the revised permissible limit.
The setback requirements have also been revised. The previous setback range of 3 to 15 meters—depending on building height—has now been reduced to 2 to 12 meters for buildings up to 12.5 meters tall, allowing for more efficient use of space.
“These changes will allow MSMEs to function more effectively within limited land resources, especially as land availability has become increasingly scarce,” said Rakesh Aneja, divisional chairman (Meerut chapter) of the Indian Industries Association. “With tighter environmental norms and a push for technological upgrades, these amendments come at the right time and will likely attract more industrial investment and employment.”
GDA officials emphasized that the changes will facilitate the development of industrial units while ensuring compliance with planning regulations and zoning laws. The amendments aim to boost growth by streamlining development processes and making it easier for new businesses to establish operations.
“The master and zonal plans designate land use for residential, industrial, and green purposes. These revisions are aligned with those plans and backed by enforcement mechanisms,” Shukla said.
The industrial community in Ghaziabad has largely welcomed the move, viewing it as a positive step toward more sustainable and scalable industrial growth.