UT Admn to allow self-certification

CHANDIGARH: In a relief to owners of properties, the Chandigarh Administration has started the process to accept self-certification on the pattern adopted by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for approval of building plans of commercial properties.

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 20

In a relief to owners of properties, the Chandigarh Administration has started the process to accept self-certification on the pattern adopted by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for approval of building plans of commercial properties.

The provision for self-certification has been incorporated in the new urban building bylaws-2017 approved by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore on July 25. Under the new system, the Estate Office will soon empanel architects for self-certification. The list of the empanelled architects will be displayed on the official website of the Estate Office with their address and contact numbers.

Under the self-certification system, residents will have to submit building plans prior to the start of construction. Security and scrutiny fees in the form of a demand draft favouring the Estate Officer, Chandigarh, will also have to be deposited. If the authorities do not raise any objection in 15 days, the owners can start construction.

According to the new system, applications regarding commercial booths, SCOs, SCFs and similar buildings, industrial plots (up to 1,000 sq yards) and buildings governed by architectural control sheets may be submitted certifying that these adhere to the requirements as laid down under the building rules, including zoning and architectural controls, giving a 15-day notice to the competent authority for granting approval. The construction can be started after the period of notice in case the competent authority does not convey any objection to the applicant. The architects are also likely to allowed to issue completion and occupation certificates of buildings which meet all parameters.

Estate Office issues RFP to hire consultant

The Estate Office has floated a tender to hire a consultant for establishing a system for starting the online approval of building plans. Sources said the Estate Office had recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the selection of a system integrator for designing, development and starting the online plan approval. The RFP was issued after Parimal Rai, UT Adviser, fixed the deadline of next month to start the project. The Estate Office has been given the responsibility of starting the online approval of building plans as it is mandatory under the reforms initiated by the Centre. The Architecture Department has already provided soft copies of zoning plans of commercial buildings sector-wise to the Estate Office. Once implemented, the system will make the process of submitting building designs less cumbersome and will also ensure transparency and check corruption.