The town and country planning department has declared that architects, engineers, and builders must submit their construction plans for approval via the department’s online building plan approval management system (BPAMS) starting January 1. Nevertheless, the department has limited the use of BPAMS to buildings containing up to four apartments, reflecting its hesitance to fully embrace the automated system.
Chief town planner Vertika Dagur has instructed that “development permissions and technical clearances for multi-dwelling buildings with up to four units, as well as completion orders for constructions approved online,” can be acquired either online or offline until January 1.
Although the online system was initiated in 2020 for homes and single dwelling units, the TCP has adopted a gradual approach to BPAMS, which facilitates construction approvals in a transparent manner.
Initially, the system was introduced for residential single-family homes in a pilot phase, allowing for online submission, review, and approval of building plans within minutes through an automated system that verifies compliance with TCP’s planning regulations. The department continues to exclude large residential and commercial projects from the BPAMS framework.
Officers within the department prefer to handle permissions for larger projects manually, which leads to delays, inefficiencies, and a lack of transparency, according to builders and architects.
Government officials also indicate that the TCP department has resisted the directive aimed at improving the ease of doing business by transitioning to software that allows architects, engineers, and builders to upload construction plans digitally without the need to visit the TCP office. Completion orders will necessitate prior online plan approvals. “This initiative is designed to streamline processes, reduce bureaucratic obstacles, and enhance efficiency,” stated a TCP official.
