The town and country planning department’s third-party certification process for low-risk buildings has garnered a lot of interest from architects and professionals. The TCP department has appointed six architects and engineers who can issue technical clearances, development permissions and completion certificates.
The empanelled architects and engineers are now waiting for the department to prepare and notify the forms which will be used to issue third-party approvals.
“There is a lot of interest from professionals for third party approvals. We have a lot of queries as this is an easier way to do business,” said Bharat Kamat, who has been appointed as a notary engineer by the TCP department.
TCP minister Vishwajit Rane had said that empanelled engineers and architects will be able to approve building plans for low-risk buildings. The department defines low-risk buildings as any two-storey building with a maximum built-up area of 500sqm on a plot of not more than 500sqm.
The department has already notified guidelines to follow while issuing the third-party approvals.
Before issuing any approvals, the empanelled professionals will have to ensure that prior clearances have been obtained from the Airport Authority of India or Indian Navy and Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority in case the plot falls within the Coastal Regulatory Zone.
The empanelled professionals have to maintain an official register and records of all the permissions that they have issued.
Kamat said that this step will benefit people who are building their own home. Earlier, applications for construction approvals had to be submitted to the TCP department or the Planning and Development Authority where it could take several months for the file to be scrutinised and approved.
