The Hindu 24.03.2010
Applications for building permit to go online
Special Correspondent
| Pilot project to cover 35 wards |
Bid to eliminate middlemen,
says Mayor
Initial trials of the new system over
Thiruvananthapuram: The City Corporation is introducing an online system of application for building permit.
Mayor C. Jayan Babu told a press conference here on Tuesday that the pilot project would cover 35 wards coming under the main office. “The system will later be extended to other wards in a phased manner,” he said.
The Mayor said the facility was designed to eliminate middlemen and touts who fleece applicants and to ensure a corruption-free system of issuing building permits. “Applications for building permit can be filed through the Corporation's website. It will drastically cut down on the time taken for inspection of the plan submitted by the applicant. The system will also be transparent and hassle-free. It will enable easy filing of applications from anywhere. Applicants can also check the status of their applications without depending on unscrupulous middlemen,” Mr. Babu said.
The system would ensure time-bound processing of applications and prevent harassment of applicants in the name of building rules.
Initial trials of the new system had been completed and over 1,000 licensed building designers trained. The Corporation had also procured two plotters that will be used to take copies of the building plan before site verification by officials.
The designer logs on to the Corporation's website and uses the ID and password issued by the local body to submit the plan prepared on Autocad software. The macro tools required for filing the plan can be downloaded from the website free of cost. However, each application will have to be accompanied by hard copies of the plan signed by the designer and applicant.
The building permit will be issued only after verification of the plot and the documents submitted by the applicant.
The Mayor said a campaign to dispose of pending applications would be taken up from April 1. The online system is being introduced under the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP).
Minister for Local Self-government Paloli Mohammed Kutty is scheduled to inaugurate the new facility at a function on Wednesday.
