The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has integrated its online planning permission software with that of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
After obtaining the CMDA’s planning nod, a resident/builder need just apply for building permit online with the corporation. “GCC officials can see all relevant documents and the approved plan and residents can track their applications,” said a CMDA official.
Earlier, after getting the planning nod through a tedious process, a resident was forced to physically visit corporation offices to apply for building permission. “Sometimes, documents got misplaced. And it took at least 8 months to get planning and building permission. Now, if all documents are proper, it can be got in 40 days,” he added.
The CMDA will speed up integrating its software with that of local bodies in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. In May 2022, it rolled out for online planning permission. From June to December 2022, it got 602 applications for Non-High-Rise Buildings (NHRB) (upto 18.3 metres). “But there were some glitches in the software and there were also issues pertaining to plan drawings. And this led to some delay in granting permissions.”
Now, most issues have been sorted out. “Between January and March this year, we received 232 applications for NHRBs and issued 122 permissions. For High-Rise Buildings, permission must go through detailed scrutiny in a committee. NOCs need to be furnished and the process takes some time,” he said.
