HYDERABAD: In what will be a huge relief to builders and flat buyers, Telangana govt on Tuesday unveiled ‘BuildNow‘ for speedy online disposal of building and layout approvals. This will replace TG-bPASS (Telangana Building Permission Approval and Self-Certification System) introduced by the previous BRS govt in Sept 2020.
BuildNow will come into force on Feb 1 after training is given to architects, govt officers and resident welfare associations on the modalities of the new rapid system, govt sources said.
The new system will scrutinise multi-storeyed buildings with three towers, each with 40-plus floors, and drawings in less than two minutes, while TG-bPASS currently takes about two to 30 days depending upon the size of the building.
It will also reduce application submission time from weeks to hours, with non-high-rise building approvals shortened from 21 to 15 days, while occupancy certificates for buildings can be obtained in 10 days from the existing 15 days.Industries minister D Sridhar Babu launched the new unified building and layout system at the secretariat.
Municipal administration department officials said BuildNow is one of the fastest drawing scrutiny systems powered by advanced technologies that will reduce the processing time from weeks to minutes.
This new system is being integrated with TG RERA. As a result, accurate information related to building permissions will be readily available to citizens.
“An AI-powered virtual assistant is integrated into the platform, which will offer tailored assistance to citizens. This feature guides users through the application process, answers queri- es and provides personalised support,” an official said.
Explaining the differences between TG-bPASS and BuildNow, officials said under the existing system, applicants have to navigate multiple platforms for applications such as submissions, status tracking, fee payments and there are delays in getting results. Build Now works on a single unified portal that encompasses both the drawings and scrutiny, and the applications at one location. Also, TG-bPASS transactions and approvals were not fully visible to the public, leading to gaps in ac- countability, an official said.
“The speciality of the new software is it has 3D visualisation of buildings and layouts. By leveraging augmented reality (AR) technology, the system provides interactive and immersive visualisations. With this feature, citizens can visualise proposed projects in their real-world context, enhancing understanding. Through interactive 3D models, citizens can experience buildings before construction begins, while also promoting real estate development,” municipal administration principal secretary Dana Kishore said.
