Building approval applications to the CMDA, which had reduced during the pandemic and continued this year too, saw an increase after the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority’s online portal went live from May 7.
Since January 1, 2022, the CMDA has received 63 applications, of which, 50 have been in the past three weeks.
“The yearly average is 650 applications. Post pandemic, the construction sector suffered and in 2020 and 2021, when 300-400 applications were received. After the online portal went live, we are getting many petitions every day,” said deputy planner, e-governance department, R K Vedhavathi.
While the online portal coinciding with the picking up of construction market is cited a reason for the hike in applications and the stakeholders gave a thumbs up for easing the application process, they said that the approval format has not changed.
“When it comes to implementing them where the interaction with officials is minimalized, nothing has changed. The drawing changes should be done faster and a time-bound process is missing. They are still working on the process and there is complete lack of accountability and transparency,” said K Cheralathan, Chennai based architect. In Hyderabad, in 60 days, there is a deemed approval process if by 60th day the approval is not given.
The single window portal for the entire housing department including the housing board, the Directorate of Town and Country Planning and local planning authorities will go live in June first week. The no-objection certificates from 21-line department will be integrated in a month’s time once that single window portal is launched.
NOC from departments like fire, Airports authority of India which usually take about six months will now be reduced. CMDA member secretary, Anshul Mishra recently met builders’ and urged them to upload all revenue documents and layout designs after checking them with professional designers.
“The designs should be as per the combined building rules and corrections in them delayed the process further. Apart from that, we will make all processes online in a few months’ time to stop all manual interactions that delayed the processes,” Mishra said. K Venkatesan, state secretary of Builders Association of India said that all state government departments should be a part of this for this to be successful.