The Hindu 26.08.2009
Special residential zones sought to promote affordable housing
Staff Reporter
| Builders’ Association of India submits memorandum to Information, Urban Development Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi |
“Public-private partnership arrangements have the potential to meet the needs”
— Photo: S.R.Raghunathan 
IN DISCUSSION: Minister for Information and Urban Development Parithi Illamvazhuthi with former president of BAI R.Radhakrishnan (left) and CMDA vice-chairman Susan Mathew at a seminar on sustainable housing in Chennai on Tuesday.
CHENNAI: The Builders’ Association of India (BAI) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Minister for Information and Urban Development Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, appealing to the State government to create special residential zones for the promotion of affordable housing in the city.
Speaking at a seminar on sustainable housing organised by the BAI here on Tuesday, Mr. Illamvazhuthi said: “The government is taking various measures to streamline urban development. Stakeholders should make optimum use of the initiatives of the government, including the powers conferred on local bodies in the Chennai Metropolitan Area for planning permission.”
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) Vice-Chairman Susan Mathew said private developers had a big role to play in meeting the housing demand in the city. Public-private partnership arrangements have the potential to meet the requirement of better dwelling units for economically weaker sections, she said.
The memorandum stressed the need to strengthen efforts to create a brand for Chennai focussing on the business-friendly government and the city’s educated workforce, skilled labour, infrastructure, favourable climate and cultural heritage.
It requested the government to identify the gap between the existing infrastructure and the infrastructure required for the population using a Carrying Capacity Index for the city.
Suggestions to provide deemed approvals for applications that are complete in all respects within 30 days from the date of submission were made.
The delay in issuing planning permission by the CMDA should not be a stumbling block for development, according to the memorandum.
The memorandum called for proposals for the development of more satellite towns and the construction of more ring roads.
It thanked the government for modifying the rules and procedures with regard to land conversion and building plan approvals.
The need to simplify the Development Control Rules was discussed.