CMDA reforms development control norms

Chennai

Taking a move towards e-governance and reforming the approval process of the site, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has decided to segregate the approval process for site and building. With this, approval for site for a specific development may be examined and approved initially. The individual may apply for planning permission for building construction which will be dealt with, separately.

Presently, planning permission applications for proposed constructions are examined and permission is issued approving both the site and the construction for specific purposes proposed in the plan. The CMDA has reviewed the procedure in consultation with the stakeholders as part of improving the overall system.

In order to reduce the time taken for processing and save the man-hours, it has been decided through a government order no. 4/2012 dated February 4, that the existing practice of giving approval for site and construction may be separated. Hence, approval for site depending on purpose, use and type of development may be examined and approved initially. Subsequently the individual may apply for planning permission.

According to CMDA, site approval takes more time than planning permission which is invariably linked to scrutiny of factors like site inspection, need for link road, special sanction and public building. There are other issues too like deficiency in measurement of road width, OSR, demand for new roads, etc.

Site approval

The site will be inspected for ascertaining road width, site boundary, site condition and need for link road. The second level inspection will be completed within 15 working days, according to the official communication. If the need arises, then the proposal will be placed before the committee to decide on the road width adequacy, permissibility of the proposed activity under ‘special sanction’ at the site etc.

The ownership and subdivision aspects will be examined and if the proposal is in conformity with the development rules (DR) demand for development charge for the land, regularisation charge and open space reservation charges will be raised. On receipt of requisite charges and taking over of land for road widening, link roads and OSR spaces etc. through prescribed gift deed, planning permission will be issued to the site for the specific purpose/type of development.

Building approval after site approval

After obtaining the site approval, a person can apply for planning permission for construction over the approved site. If the site was inspected within six months at the stage of site approval, then the site inspection will be dispensed with.

Latest ownership document and a copy of the patta with FMB sketch or PLR extract of the site and latest EC are required to be furnished by the applicant for scrutiny and for record in the connected file in which the planning permission for building construction is dealt with.

If the proposed construction is in conformity with the development regulation, all the applicable charges except those already collected at the stage of site approval will be collected and further processing will be done. In cases where the site approval did not involve regularisation of unauthorised subdivision and reservation and handing over of OSR space or collection of OSR charges in lieu, for larger development of special buildings, group developments, MSBs, the conformity of OSR rule provision will be examined as provided in the development rules.

A list of planning permissions accorded for building constructions will also be displayed in the CMDA’s website which will be updated on a weekly basis. At the same time if an applicant prefers to apply for both site approval and building approval together as is being done now, the option will continue to be available and the application shall contain all the details and plans required for both.

Source: http://content.magicbricks.com/cmda-reforms-development-control-norms