CHENNAI: The process for obtaining planning permissions for high-rise buildings (HRBs) is set to become faster. The state government has delegated the authority to approve HRB projects in the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). This decision was made known through a Government Order (GO) by the housing and urban development department on June 15.
Following a request from the CMDA, which indicated that routing proposals through the government after technical review had caused delays, the government has concurred and decided to enable the planning authority to grant approvals directly.
This order amends provisions of the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules (TNCDBR), 2019, which previously required HRB proposals to be submitted to the government for final approval. A GO in 2022 had empowered the CMDA to grant planning permissions for HRBs (over 18m tall). However, this was reversed in 2023, making government approval mandatory once again.
“Previously, developers submitted HRB permission applications to the CMDA. After field inspections, these were reviewed by the HRB committee, and then forwarded to the government for final approval, which required a GO. Now, these procedures have been updated,” stated an official.
The government has reformed the HRB scrutiny panel, which will be led by the CMDA’s member secretary and will include members from the fire and rescue services, Metrowater, GCC, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, the water resources department, public works department, and the police traffic wing.
“This is an encouraging development as it will expedite the process. Securing a GO from the government used to take a minimum of two months,” remarked S. Sridharan, an executive committee member of Credai National.
