In a series of decisions, the Centre has decided that in Delhi you will not be required to obtain a building permit for minor constructions or alteration works like re-roofing and cladding if they don’t violate norms related to fire safety, structural stability and built-up area. Also, for undertaking constructions in a plot above 2,000 square metres, the building material will have to be stacked inside the plot itself.
Also, in a bid to attract investments into the country, the Centre has reduced the limit of built-up area for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from 50,000 square metres to 20,000 square metres for the real estate sector.
As per modifications in Delhi’s building bye-laws, no notice and building permit is required for addition or alterations which do not otherwise violate any provisions regarding building requirements, structural stability, fire safety requirements and involve no change to the cubic contents or to the built-up area of the building, as defined in bye-laws. Hence, people may not have to wait for processes in the local bodies to initiate construction.
To bring more transparency, the Centre has decided that the procedure and documentation for construction on residential plots up to 105 square metres in size will be done through ‘Saral’ scheme. “For residential plots up to 105 square metres in size forming a part of approved layout/ special areas/unauthorised/regularised colony/village abadis/lal dora/extended lal dora resettlement colonies and slum and JJ cluster/rehabilitation colonies, excluding those within “lutyens Bungalow Zone”( lBZ), the procedure and documentation shall be as per Saral scheme.”
The scheme has been launched to facilitate the owners of small-sized plots. Interestingly, the moment the owners submit online their building plans prepared by an architect to the concerned local bodies along with fees, other charges, drawings and documents before commencement of the construction, the submission itself shall be deemed as a sanction.
Further, the local bodies have been directed to get the entire building approval process made online so that the building plan applications are submitted online, building fees and other charges are deposited online, and after due scrutiny, the approvals are conveyed online.
This apart, the Centre has decided to reduce the limit of built-up area from the existing 50,000 sqm to 20,000 sqm. According to officials, this would help improve ‘the ease of doing business’ and increase foreign investments.
Further, the external bodies like Delhi Urban Art Commission, National Monuments Authority, Airports Authority of India, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Heritage Conservation Committee, which grant no objection certificate or approvals on the proposed building plans to the local bodies, have to prepare online system for approval and it should be compatible and integrated with that of the local bodies.
The specific requirements of the external bodies are to be added in the Common Application Form of the local body so that building proponent has to file all information at one go only. The objective is to make the whole process simplified and streamlined to ensure ease in getting the approvals for building permit within stipulated time.
The Centre has also directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to set up an environmental cell at local authority level to support compliance and monitoring of environmental conditions in the buildings. The Cell shall induct at least two outside experts as per the requirements and background of dedicated experts.
