According to an analysis by CBRE, globally, Mumbai ranks 17th and 14th in Asia among cities with the maximum number of tall buildings.
Any building with a height of more than 150m meets the tall building classification.
Among other Indian cities, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Noida account for 8%, 7%, and 5% of the tall buildings in India, respectively. Gurgaon, Bangalore, and Chennai closely follow them, each contributing 1% to the country’s tall building landscape.
“The current trend in major Indian cities allows for outward expansion. However, it is important to recognize that this approach may not be a sustainable solution in the long term,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO – India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE.
However in future, it becomes imperative for developers, architects, planners and policymakers to go for vertical growth strategy. Some of the tall projects in NCR include Supernova in Noida (300 metres), TRUMP TOWERS in Gurugram (198.84 metres), The Leela Sky Villas in Delhi (190 metres), Raheja Revanta in Gurugram (199.7 metres) among others.Other tall structures of Delhi are ATC Tower height, on completion, 101.9 metres, Pitampura TV Tower, 235 metres, Civic Centre, 102 metres and Qutab Minar, 72.5 metres.
Mumbai has already demonstrated the success of such an approach in some locations, but other cities still heavily rely on horizontal development. Hyderabad, for the past few years, has been eyeing vertical growth, presenting another prime example where developers and stakeholders are actively pursuing vertical growth, capitalizing on the favourable Floor Space Index (FSI) regulations in Telangana.
“Exponential urban migration has led to a need for a well-planned city landscape by way of exploring avenues for growth of tall buildings,” Magazine said.
Limited land resources and an exponential increase in urban population have been the primary reasons for the city’s vertical growth over the years.
Decentralization of growth in Mumbai led to expansion towards the north and east, giving rise to new micro-markets such as Malad, Goregaon, Powai, Vikhroli, and Kanjurmarg, which have transformed from residential outskirts into important city centers.
Despite this expansion, land scarcity remains a pressing issue in Mumbai’s urban areas, resulting in high demand and causing a steep hike in land prices. Central Mumbai and South Mumbai, known for their prestige and premium location, have become hubs for high-rise clusters. These densely populated areas enjoy excellent connectivity through public transportation and road networks and command a premium real estate price compared to other parts of the city.
The report also indicates that nearly 89% of completed tall buildings in India are dedicated residential buildings, while 6% are designated office buildings. Mixed-use structures account for 4% of the tall building landscape, while hotels make up 1%.
“The tall structures not only help reduce carbon emissions by creating compact environments with efficient mobility features, but they offer branding opportunities, high-quality living standards, and presence in prime locations, attracting investors. Research also shows that densely populated areas have an additional cost advantage in providing basic services,” said Gurjot Bhatia, Managing Director, Project Management – India, SE Asia, Middle East and Africa.
