Architects oppose minister’s plan to cap fee for building plans

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 24

Architects have opposed the plan of the Local Bodies Department to cap the fee charged by them for drawing up building plans.

A body of the Punjab Architects, Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), Punjab chapter, has countered the argument given by Local Bodies Department in this regard.

The IIA chairman, Punjab chapter, Sanjay Goyal, said, “The Local Bodies Department has decided to put a cap on the fee charged by architects for designing buildings in the state. The Local Bodies Minister, Brahm Mohindra, has given a statement that this move aims to provide monetary relief to people, who have been complaining of paying huge amount to architects, for uploading drawings of building plans online.”

“Architects’ fees is governed by the guidelines of Council of Architecture, which was established under Architects Act, 1972. The state government has no jurisdiction to put a cap on architects’ fees. It is against the law. We will take it to higher level till we get justice,” said Goyal.

In reply to a Minister’s statement that architects were demanding huge fee for approving online plans, Goyal added, “Corruption in the Local Bodies Department has increased after the introduction of online approvals. No qualified architect indulges in malpractices. It is the result of the department allowing unqualified designers, who are not supposed to design buildings.”

“There are many faults in the online approval system. Online scrutiny is supposed to be time bound, which is not. They should focus on their drawbacks rather targeting architects,” said another architect.

Architects want to know if the government was planning a cap on the fee charged by other professionals, including doctors, CAs, advocates and others, working in the state.