Govt fixes deadline for online building map approval

The exercise will simplify and dispose of online map approvals for ‘low risk’ and ‘high risk’ properties in a timely manner.

The state housing and urban planning department has issued fresh directions that will simplify and dispose of online map approvals for ‘low risk’ and ‘high risk’ properties in a timely manner. The directions have been issued across state to all development authorities, including the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA).

Ghaziabad Development Authority officials said that the new directions will simplify the online map approval process (Sakib Ali/HT PHOTO)

Authority officials said that the new directions will simplify the online map approval process. According to them, the new directions mandate that maps of ‘low risk’ properties will be cleared in 48 working hours, even if the authority fails to clear them on time.

“At present, such maps are supposed to get clearance within 48 hours, but are sometimes delayed. With the new directions, maps for such properties will be cleared automatically via the online system, if the authority does not dispose of them within 48 hours,” Ishtiyaq Ahmad, the authority’s chief architect and town planner, said.

‘Low risk’ properties, according to officials, are residential plots that measure up to 2,000 square metres. Such properties are located in colonies sanctioned or approved by the authority. They are generally meant for constructing individual housing.

For the other category of ‘high risk’ properties, the application for map clearance will now be automatically rejected within 30 days if the applicant fails to resolve the objections raised by the authority.

The directions also state that applications for such properties will be rejected if the applicant fails to submit the fee demanded by the authority online within a period of seven days. According to officials, previously, they would extend the deadline, but now, the applications will automatically be rejected by the online system.

‘High risk’ properties are those whose layout plans have not been sanctioned by the authority. These properties can be institutional, industrial and commercial. Such map clearances also require special no-objection certificates from different departments such as fire, industries, etc.

“The new directions will save time and will automatically process applications in terms approvals and rejections. The online system will take care of the conditions itself,” Ahmad added.

Presently, the online map approval system is operated by the GDA. Last year, the state government had initiated the online portal, https://upobps.in, for online map approvals.