JAIPUR: The process of obtaining building plan approvals from the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has slowed down due to a recent order making Fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs) mandatory for final sanctioning, creating uncertainty for architects and applicants alike.
The order issued on July 10 by additional chief town planner Ankur Dadheech stipulates that JDA will provide “approval in principle” for building plans. Applicants must secure a Fire NOC from the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) based on this provisional approval before the building plan receives final authorization.
Architects empanelled by the urban development and housing (UDH) department have expressed concerns regarding the lack of clarity in the new process, which they feel imposes additional responsibilities. Lokesh Garg, an empanelled architect, shared with TOI that the order complicates the approval process for building maps. “Our responsibility is to prepare the building map and achieve JDA approval. Under the new rules, clients will expect us to also procure the Fire NOC from JMC, which is outside our purview. Consequently, no architects in Jaipur are submitting new applications,” Garg commented.
The UDH department has empanelled around 80 architects across Rajasthan under Rule 16.3 of the Model Rajasthan (Urban Area) Building Regulation, 2025, with approximately 60 located in Jaipur. These architects are authorized to create building plans for structures up to 15 meters high and on plots up to 2,500 sqm, covering over 90% of buildings in Jaipur, according to officials.
Officials from JDA’s town planning department, including Dadheech, were unavailable for comment on the matter.
According to an official, the order is a response to the Fire Provisions Relating to Fire Prevention, Life Safety, and Fire Protection Measures for All Types of Buildings in the State of Rajasthan-2026 Act, implemented by the local self-government department on June 16.
Fire officials at JMC have expressed skepticism about the new order, highlighting that NOCs require physical verification of fire safety measures and on-site compliance. “Validating safety standards involves ensuring the installation of numerous types of firefighting equipment. How can one issue a Fire NOC without inspecting the buildings?” questioned an official.
