Bhubaneswar: New building plan approval system to save a lot of time

Under the Odisha government’s Ease of Doing Business Policy, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) developed a new building plan approval system which will be facilitated online through a Common Application Form (CAF).

Earlier, applicants had to apply to multiple agencies for the NOC and then seek BDA/BMC for plan approval. However, under the newly-developed system, applicants will have to apply to BDA and BMC using the CAF after which the form will be sent to other Government agencies online for according NOC.

The authorities have also decided that various agencies concerned would issue no-objection certificates within seven days to ensure a speedy completion of the process. If any agency delays in issuing the certificates, the civic authorities may now give the building plan approval nod to the applicant without waiting for the no-objection from the agency concerned. The required payments for the online approval process will also be accepted online.

“We have drafted the common application form rules. Our aim here is to provide the approval at the earliest. The earlier system was tardy and time-consuming. The new one will save a lot of time and money of the applicants,” said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

To facilitate the test run, a 10-member architects’ group has been formed. It will be supported by ILFS Environment team which is developing the Building Plan Approval System (BPAS) software.

Once the feedback is incorporated to BPAS, the draft system will be placed before the State Government for approval. After approval and statutory induction, BPAS will be notified.

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