Now, Corporation to issue building approvals for larger dwellings

According to a directive issued by D Karthikeyan, member secretary of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Chennai Corporation has been delegated powers to approve planning permission for buildings with ground-plus-two floors or stilt-plus-three floors having 16 dwelling units. Earlier, the Chennai Corporation could issue approval only to smaller buildings with six dwelling units.

The order explains that the delegation of power would enable the Chennai Corporation Commissioner to issue planning permissions based 2.0 FSI instead of 1.5 FSI. The government has relaxed the FSI by notifying Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules.

Apart from delegating powers to Chennai Corporation, CMDA had also delegated powers to Avadi Corporation and other local bodies falling in Chennai Metropolitan Area. Based on the new order, Avadi Corporation could issue planning approvals for buildings with ground-plus-two floors or stilt-plus-three floors having eight dwelling units. Similarly, Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) also released orders delegating powers to the local bodies in a way to utilise new FSI norms. Welcoming the move, S Ramaprabhu, Chairman of Builders’ Association of India (Southern Centre) said that the move is a boon to real estate market especially to small builders and individual owners, who are desirous to construct buildings as per the new rules. “Allowing the benefits of new floor space index will make the housing sector more affordable,” he added.