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Urban Planning

50% highrises in Kozhikode violate building rules

Saturday, 07 December 2013 09:55 administrator
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The Times of India               07.12.2013

50% highrises in Kozhikode violate building rules

KOZHIKODE: A random survey found that nearly 50% of high-rise buildings in Kozhikode Corporation have violated the Kerala Municipality Building Rules (KMBR).

A team led by Eapen Varghese, chief town planner in the vigilance wing of the Kerala state local self-government body department, found that 50% buildings have violated the rules. The inspections were conducted at 25 high-rise buildings in the corporation limit.

The team visited the sites on the direction given by chief minister Oommen Chandy to urban Affairs minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali on the basis of complaint of Campaign Committee Against Corruption.

K P Vijayakumar, convener of the committee, urged the chief minister to conduct detail inquiry into irregularities in the sanctioning of building plans in the city corporation limit from 2005 to 2012.

The team conducted two -day inspections in the sites of buildings constructed on more than 5,000 square metres area and above five storey in the corporation limit.

The team comprising chief town planner (vigilance) and northern zone town planner (vigilance) K V Abdul Malik visited the construction sites. It found violations of building rules in providing side open spaces and parking space.

The buildings don't have sufficient side open spaces and parking space in comparison to its size. Usually, a parking unit is given for 60 to 150 square metres in buildings, which is missing in many high rise buildings.

The team members said that these violations can be rectified in some of the under construction buildings. The officials have directed the city corporation to provide details about plans of all the high-rise buildings which were found violating the rules. The team will submit the report to the state after checking all the documents related to the building plans at the corporation as well as the building owners.

The officials have also found that the waste disposal systems set up at majority of the buildings are not functional. The state will direct the corporation to demolis illegally constructed portions of the buildings after submitting the report. The corporation had given permission for building plans during 2008 to 2012.

Though the team members have asked the city corporation authorities to provide files on a total of 100 buildings, the civic body had given files of only 15 high rise buildings.

The team members have also come across instances of architects preparing structural drawings of buildings violating the KMBR.

 

'Each flat must have a parking place'

Tuesday, 26 November 2013 06:46 administrator
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The New Indian Express            26.11.2013 

'Each flat must have a parking place'

GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar has instructed the builders in GHMC area to provide one parking place for each flat.

The commissioner held a meeting with builders, architects and engineers, who are on the GHMC panel,  to give clarity on the items mentioned in the checklist before submission of building permit applications.

Somesh Kumar said the GHMC is going to integrate property tax with issue of occupancy certificates, but will not insist on having water and electricity connections for the same. However, he suggested that laying of electricity and water lines be completed before submitting the application for occupancy certificate.Speaking to reporters after the Prajavani programme,  the commissioner said the GHMC is planning to open two training centres for women in cab running by December 31.

Metropolis Congress:

Somesh Kumar, along with MAUD special secretary Pargaien and West Zone commissioner Aleem Basha visited Barcelona in Spain for a discussion on the arrangements for the ensuing Metropolis World Congress scheduled to be held here from October 7 to 10, 2014.

The GHMC will come up with an action plan within 15 days on the venue, conference organiser and budget allocation, he said.

Footpaths and roads in Barcelona are maintained well, and the GHMC would try to implement those best practices here too, he added.

Metropolis secretary general Alain Le Saux, along with a high-power delegation, will be visiting Hyderabad next January to review the arrangements for the World Congress, he said.

The commissioner directed that birth and death certificates be issued at the GHMC Citizen Service Centre as well as Mee Seva and eSeva centres.

 

Vellore Corporation begins UGDS work on NH

Friday, 22 November 2013 06:25 administrator
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The New Indian Express            22.11.2013

Vellore Corporation begins UGDS work on NH

Traffic on the Cuddalore-Chittoor National Highway (NH) has been diverted, following the Underground Drainage System (UGDS) work, which began on the NH-234 from Wednesday.

After much delay, the Department of National Highways had given its nod to carry out the UGDS work on the NH, which stretches to around 3.65 km. This covers the Vellore-Arni Road, Anna Salai and Katpadi Road in the city.

The work would be carried out by the Corporation in four phases. The first phase would be from National Theatre to North Police Station, the second from North Police Station to Arya Bhavan, the third from Arya Bhavan to DSP Bungalow and the final phase from DSP Bungalow to Velapadi Bridge. On Wednesday, the local body conducted a pooja, to commence the UGDS work on the NH, after the road diversion plan was received. Earthmovers were brought to the spot and digging of the road began.

According to the new traffic diversion plan, all vehicles proceeding towards Makkan via National Theatre and CMC Hospital exit gate from Katpadi and New Bus Stand would be diverted via National Theatre, Old BypassRoad and Bangalore Road, to reach the Vellore Old Bus Stand. Officials said the first phase of the NH work would be completed in two months. They added that a total of 123 manholes on the NH, including 30 manholes in the first  phase would be buried.

Commissioner P Janaki Raveendran sought the cooperation of the public in carrying out the UGDS work successfully, which is one of the major projects, that had been envisaged for the public residing in the city.

The UGDS work in the city began towards the end of March, 2009. The whole project involves around 5.5 sq km, covering 24 wards coming under the Old Corporation limits. Areas between Saidapet Murugan temple and Long Bazaar were covered under package I, while in package II, areas from Vellore South Police Station till Velapadi were covered. The construction of the sewage treatment plant was included under package III. Officials said that more than 80 per cent of the UGDS work had been completed in the city so far.

 

Aluva may get some advice from the UK in urban planning

Saturday, 09 November 2013 05:12 administrator
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The Hindu            09.11.2013

Aluva may get some advice from the UK in urban planning

Special Correspondent

Aluva municipality may receive expert inputs on “future-proofing” as per an agreement to be signed between the local body and a UK firm.

Atkins, a UK-based design, engineering and project management consultant, will ink a Memorandum of Understanding with Aluva municipality on November 11. Prince Charles will be present when the representatives of the firm will sign the memorandum of understanding with the civic head of Aluva municipality, “marking the participation of Kochi in the Future Cities project,” according to an official communication.

Future proofing, according to its proponents, assess the risk profile of cities “from climate hazards, resource scarcities, and damage to ecosystems and urges action now to future proof against these risks.” Atkins, says its website, had assessed the risks of 128 cities worldwide, in partnership with the UK Department for International Development and the University College London.

The report assessed “the environmental risks facing cities in an integrated way and identifies more than 100 practical policy options that are most relevant and will be of most benefit to the different types of cities.” The report was “set against a growing awareness of the need for increased funding for infrastructure development in developing countries at the city level,” according to its website.

Jebi Mather, a councillor of the Aluva Municipality, said the climate change would have its impact on a city like Aluva, which had witnessed flooding during the last monsoon. Besides the banks of the river and its adjacent areas, several wards of the local body were flooded. “The expertise of the UK firm is expected to help urban planners in drawing up future plans to mitigate the impacts of climate change among other things,” said Ms. Mather, who was coordinating the project for the local body.

The local body will also showcase the activities of the Kudumbashree units before the visiting team. The unique products developed and marketed by the units will be put on display.

 

BMC gets 6 more months for Mumbai's new DP

Tuesday, 01 October 2013 06:25 administrator
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The Indian Express            01.10.2013

BMC gets 6 more months for Mumbai's new DP

Four days ahead of the deadline for Mumbai's new development plan (DP), the state government on Monday decided to modify laws to give the civic body another six months.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan informed that the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, will be modified in this regard.

On Chavan's insistence, the state urban development department had inserted a provision in the MRTP on April 5, 2011, asking urban local bodies to complete the process of preparation of DPs within four years.

The four-year deadline for Mumbai ends on October 4. The civic body had earlier written to the government that it was not in a position to comply with the deadline.

Under existing provisions, the responsibility of preparing the DP would have shifted to the town planning department headed by Chavan.

Sources said the government was not keen on taking up the responsibility amid public outcry over discrepancies in the plan preparation.

The BMC has faced severe criticism for inaccuracies in existing land use maps prepared for the new plan.

Sources said that the town planning department was ill-equipped to take on the mammoth task.

As a way out, it has been decided that for all cities with a population of more than 10 lakh will be provided an additional six months for preparation of the DP.

Sources said an ordinance will be issued in this regard.

 
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