Building permits
MUMBAI: Can a reduction in red tape for building permissions help developers complete more projects on time? The state and BMC believe the city’s exaggerated real estate costs could come down if building permits can be issued with stipulated deadlines and costs.
Builders will now be able to go to a certified private architect for some construction approvals instead of making repeated rounds of civic offices. With its revised building proposal manual, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is all set to select private consultants for the certification of select permissions needed for construction. These include obtaining the remarks of various departments, such as roads, stormwater drains, sewerage, traffic and so son. Under the new plan, the BMC will authorise consultants to issue these certifications.
In addition, the revised manual also drastically simplifies the procedure for pay fees during the permissions process. Up to now, builders had to pay fees at 89 different points through various applications. The new manual mandates a single-window system for all fees. The BMC has also cut the number of permissions from 119 to 58 under its ‘ease of doing business’ scheme. The BMC has also proposed that occupation certificates and completion certificates be issued simultaneously.
These moves to curtail the lengthy – and often corrupt – procedures for seeking building permits will also make it easier to build affordable homes, authorities believe.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “If a developer buys a plot for construction he has to seek permission from various departments, which delays many projects. Builders have to pay for these delays and recover the sums from customers, which makes houses more expensive.”
He added, “Cutting down the number of permissions, simplifying the procedure and setting a 60-day deadline will surely help in provide more affordable housing.” Fadnavis has set a target of 11 lakhs affordable houses by 2022 with the help of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industries.
While builders have welcomed the new, simplified norms, the Practicing Engineers, Architects and Town Planners Association (PEATA) criticized the lack of a clause to punish civic officials who do not give clearances in the stipulated time.
PEATA chairman Shirish Sukhatme said, “The revised manual is silent on action against officers who fail to deliver on time. There has to be some penalty. We suggested this to the BMC but they have not included it in the revised manual.”