India, Aug. 25 -- Schools in Delhi will have to use at least 15 percent of their permissible Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for infrastructure supporting extracurricular activities under the proposed Master Plan for Delhi-2047 (MPD-2047), putting sports, cultural and other student-focused facilities at the centre of school planning. The provision is part of the Development Control Norms (DCN) for educational facilities under the Public and Semi-Public (PSP) use category. The plan specifically states that, in the case of schools, "minimum 15% of the permissible FAR shall be utilised for developing infrastructure for extra-curricular activities" in accordance with the National Education Policy or any other policy adopted by the Delhi government. The provision applies to schools as part of a wider set of planning norms aimed at ensuring that educational premises provide facilities beyond classrooms and academic spaces. Also Read - AAP accuses BJP of failing city amid widespread waterlogging Advertisement Under MPD-2047, a school is defined as a premise having educational and playing facilities for students. The plan prescribes different development controls depending on the level of schooling. A school up to Class VI must have a minimum plot size of 2,000 sqm, with 40 per cent ground coverage and FAR of 150. For schools up to Class XII, the minimum plot size is 4,000 sqm, ground coverage is capped at 40 per cent and the maximum FAR is 180. The plan also seeks to address the shortage of dedicated sports infrastructure in schools. It allows built-up space of up to 150 sqm, free from ground coverage and FAR calculations, for facilities such as squash courts, table tennis rooms and associated facilities including changing and pump rooms. Another provision states that where there are space constraints, schools may develop playgrounds on a shared basis. For new schools, the front boundary wall will have to be recessed by six metres to accommodate visitor parking. The MPD-2047 framework also allows up to 200 sqm, including FAR, for support facilities such as retail shops, post offices, bank counters with ATMs and health facilities, alongside extracurricular infrastructure.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.