If the Union urban development ministry proposal goes through, around 1 lakh more houses are expected to come up in the city.

FAR in group housing societies has been increased from 167 to 200 in MPD-2021, which was notified by the urban development ministry in February last year. After MPD-2021 came into force, several housing societies had permitted their residents to increase the area of their flats by making extensions to take advantage of the raised FAR. But the government, keen to bridge the huge gap in affordable housing in the capital, hopes that the new proposal will make available more houses.

Sources in urban development ministry said the proposal would force housing societies to utilize the increased FAR to construct new houses. ``The proposal will provide housing to many who are not in a position to afford costly flats offered by private builders,'' a ministry official said.

The availability of around one lakh houses, that too in existing housing societies, would also put a check on sky-rocketing prices of flats, he added.

The proposal is also in tune with the master plan's provision increasing the population density by 40% -- from 175 persons per hectare to 250 persons -- in residential areas.

Clause 4.4.3-B of the master plan, which deals with increase in FAR in societies, does not specify how the increased built-up area is to be utilized.