Building plan approval goes online

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16

The Department of Local Government on Thursday rolled out its ambitious flagship programme of “e-Naksha”. The Online Building Plan Approval System (OBPAS) will help citizens in saving time by not making rounds of offices to get their building plans approved.

Addressing architects and the commissioners of all the Municipal Corporations, Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “Catering to all 165 local governments as well as 27 Improvement Trusts, the system will allow the approval process to be completed within about 21 days from the day of the application. The system will be in order within 45 days after which no application will be perused manually”.

“The common people will definitely not have to make endless rounds of the government offices to get maps/drawings of their buildings passed,” Sidhu said.

Zirakpur-based architect Vandana and engineer Sanjeev Saini became the first applicants for the “one spot place for approval of drawings/maps”.

The process

The process involves applying online on the department website (www.enaksha.lgpunjab.gov.in). The building inspector will then go to the spot and put photos and other updates online. If no response is received within three days, the plan will be considered as passed on to the next stage, which involves verification of the documents. The Town Planning Officer concerned will give the final approval.