Chennai: Now, get building plan approvals within 27 days

CHENNAI: Tightening the building plan approval process to end the widespread complaint of delays, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran directed officials to issue final approvals within 27 days of the application.

The circular has prescribed specific deadlines for each stage of the process, including field inspection, report submission, document scrutiny, and online clarification procedures.

The directive aims to streamline citizen services by enforcing a digital-first approach and a strict ‘First In, First Out’ (FIFO) seniority rule to ensure transparency. Also, a day-by-day tracking system will be established to track applications seeking planning permission from the date of admission.

Once an application is filed, the assistant executive engineer (AEEs) concerned must inspect the site with seven days from the date of application, and the report should be uploaded to the GCC portal within two days of visit. Document verification must be completed within five days of uploading the report, and if additional details are required, officials will get two days to raise queries and applicants should upload additional particulars within seven days.

The circular explicitly bans AEEs from summoning applicants, owners, or architects, and insisted that all scrutiny, communications, and grievance redressals must happen strictly online to prevent corruption.

If the documents are in order, the process goes directly to fee calculation. The competent authorities must approve the application and automatically generate the online fee demand within three working days of receiving documents. The executive engineer must digitally sign and validate the final plan and permit within a day of online payment, enabling immediate download.

As per this schedule, applicants will be able to get the final construction project approval within 27 days. The circular added that if all documents have been submitted correctly and completely, approval must be granted within 18 days.

The GCC has also eliminated multiple checks for projects that have already secured planning permission from the CMDA. In these cases, the ownership documents are examined by the CMDA and GCC need not do site inspections and document verifications. In such cases, the civic body's role will be limited strictly to verifying compliance with the National Building Code (NBC).

The GCC must automatically generate the building license fee advice online within seven days of receiving the forwarded application from the CMDA and the final permit must be issued within three days of online payment.

However, the Commissioner added that the Corporation has the right to halt construction and take strict legal action if any information is later found to be fraudulent.