Urban News

The body is mulling over developing an online databank of ‘sample’ sanctioned building plans from which anyone who intends to construct a house can pick up a suitable architectural design. The sample designs will depend and vary according to the size of plots.

According to the Corporation, the office of Lieutenant-Governor has given a green signal to the plan. It is now being “examined and analysed by officials concerned of the engineering and building department”.

“Since the Capital’s landscape has distinctive characteristics, plots of a particular size have more or less similar dimensions and, under the building bylaws, too many options of architectural designs are not possible,” said an official of the Engineering Department, MCD.

“For instance, if there is a piece of land of 100 yards, it must be measuring 60x30 feet. We plan to construct a building on that particular plot under constraints of building bylaws, an architect may hardly suggest 10-15 designs or layout plans. The MCD has approved several building plans of 100 yards. We will upload those plans of various sizes of plot on our websites,” he said. The official added this exercise will help the agency sanction “building plans within a week”.

“Advance approved building plans will be available. They only need to mention the design number in their application for sanction,” the official said.

The MCD has also planned other reforms, including keeping a ‘log book’ that will be issued by the Junior Engineer concerned and will be kept at all construction sites. “Whenever a JE inspects the site, he will put in remarks on the ongoing construction, like whether it is complying with the approved plan. This will help to curb unauthorised construction. In case the owner does not comply with building bylaws, the said JE can be made answerable,” the official said.

The GMADA has not yet received all application forms of prospective buyers. The civic body said the State Bank of India (SBI), which had collected the maximum number of forms, is sitting over 1.25 lakh forms. The GMADA had authorised 19 banks to receive the forms, of which 18 have already transferred 1.92 lakh forms to it.

It has been 38 days since the much-hyped housing scheme offer has closed. The GMADA was initially promised to hold the draw of lots within a month after the closure of the scheme.

While the GMADA has issued final notice to SBI, the bank has accused the civic body for the delay. “When we had almost completed processing of the forms, GMADA gave us a prescribed proforma to process the forms, following which we are now re-processing them,” said SBI Regional Manager T K Berry.

“When we were about to transfer the forms, but GMADA asked us to prepare the lists of the forms as per plot size and category with separate serial number. Since it is voluminous work, we have deputed extra workforce to complete the job at the earliest,” he said.

“Since 85 SBI branches across the country were involved in the scheme, the whole process, according to GMADA’s demand, could have taken at least a month. But we are likely to submit the forms within a week,” said Berry.