GURUGRAM: After a delay of a year and a half, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) has finally started issuing occupation certificates (OCs) for stilt-plus-four-floor (S+4) buildings constructed without approved plans.
The district town planner (planning) has so far received around 50 applications, of which 25 have been granted OCs, while demand notices were sent for other buildings that are expected to receive the documents once the fees are paid. Some applications are still under scrutiny, an official said.
On Feb 23, 2023, a govt order restricted construction of four-storey buildings without proper approvals, leading to several of them in licensed colonies going unfinished without OCs.
Many of these buildings had permits for two or three storeys but owners went on to construct four floors, resulting in over 100 structures left standing without permissions.
In response, on July 2, the Haryana govt introduced a compounding policy to regulate such cases, allowing buildings to obtain OCs through an additional fee within 60 days.
However, the matter was delayed further due to litigation in the Punjab and Haryana high court. Last month, with the HC lifting its stay, DTP (planning) resumed processing pending applications on a priority basis, aiming to bring long-awaited relief to building owners.
The department has received around 50 applications in the past month and a half. Each case undergoes a detailed inspection, including verification of any neighbour complaints, before issuing OCs.
The ongoing scrutiny and compliance requirements led to some applications being granted OCs, while others await fee submissions or further documentation.
“We are handling all compounding applications within stipulated timelines. Most applications received have been resolved. We are now scrutinising pending cases, advising property owners on necessary documentation and fee payments,” said DTP (planning) Praveen Chauhan.
This accelerated issuance of OCs marks a significant shift, promising long-awaited compliance and assurance for building owners in Gurgaon‘s real estate sector.
Rajiv Malhotra, a property owner, said, “The development has been a huge relief for us. After waiting over a year and a half, finally seeing the occupation certificate process move forward. We invested everything into this property, and not having OC meant constant uncertainty. Now, with the govt’s renewed action and the high court’s clearance, we’re hopeful that our property will finally be fully recognised.”
In July this year, the DTCP additional chief secretary had issued a standard operating procedure for granting approval for building plans with four-floor and stilt parking. According to it, in colonies where the layout plan allows for three floors with stilt parking and a 10m-wide road, plans for four floors can be approved now.
