CHENNAI: Constructing smaller residential buildings has become easier. The state govt has said people planning homes with a built-up area up to 3,500sqft in plots of up to 2,500sqft can get building permission on a self-certification basis.
Inaugurating the scheme on Monday under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, chief minister M K Stalin issued building permits to 10 beneficiaries. Directorate of Town and Country Planning director B Ganesan said the scheme, introduced for the first time in Tamil Nadu, will help economically weaker sections and middle-class people.
The 2024-25 state budget had introduced the scheme, saying that those planning homes with a built-up area up to 3,500sqft, including ground floor or ground floor plus the first floor under 7 metres tall, in plots up to 2,500sqft can obtain building permits with self-certification.
Relaxations, including a reduction in setback requirement to 1.5 metres, a scrutiny fee of 2 per sq m and exemptions from infrastructure development and other charges of 375 per sq m, have been provided.
“Applicants can immediately receive building permits and related documents with a QR code after paying the necessary fees,” an official said. Pre-site inspections and final inspections have been waived. “However, there will be some surprise compulsory inspections.”
Presently, 72% of building permit applications for residential buildings are from rural areas, 77% from town panchayats, and 79% from municipalities and corporations. They are reviewed by the respective local bodies through the single-window system.
Thanking the chief minister and the govt, S Sridharan,vice-president of Confederation of Real Estate Associations’ of India (Credai National – South), said it was a positive move that would help people, mainly members of the middle class who are building their own houses, or for developers doing one or two units.
“This will also result in the reduction of cost as most of the approval charges have been reduced or waived,” he said.
J M Kavinithi, a second year medical student who got her online permit on Monday, said her father had purchased a plot in her name in Chennai. “I came to know about this self-certification and applied for it and got it very easily. I have seen my father struggling to get approval,” she said.
