CMDA starts releasing plan approvals online

Residents can now easily verify whether the approval plans are being followed while buildings are constructed, as the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has started releasing planning permissions online.

Planning permissions and approved plans for 12 new buildings have been released on CMDA’s official website. The 12 planning permissions were issued after the planning authority launched the online single window system for approving building plans. Final approval for all the 12 applications were issued between June 20-22. The system came into effect in the second week of May.

Under the new system, applicants (builders or individuals) need not run from pillar to post to get no-objection certificates. Once the application and drawings are uploaded, the planning authority will coordinate with 21 departments to get the certificates. Earlier, residents were made to file RTI applications and wait for days to get planning permissions. Welcoming the move, V Gopalakrishnan, activist, said that the move would ensure transparency. “This will also safeguard the home buyer as they can easily identify violated buildings. In KK Nagar, families in an apartment are living without basic amenities for several year as plan approvals were violated,” he said.

He also urged the planning authority to release all plan approvals given before the single window system. “The Corporation issues approvals. As violations are higher in Corporation approved buildings than CMDA ones, the civic body should follow the planning authority. All local bodies should release plan approvals,” he said.

Recently, Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy said that single window for layout approvals in Chennai Metropolitan Area will be launched soon, adding, a single window system for building plan approvals and layout approvals in DTCP will also be launched.