MC ill-equipped for online building plan approval

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 14

While all municipal bodies in the state are to implement the online building plan approval system today, the local Municipal Corporation (MC) will begin the process without proper infrastructure, including computer systems and internet facility, at its office. 

Offline applications for sanctioning building plans will not be accepted from Tuesday as per directions of the state government. Meanwhile, architects in the area have also raised a number of questions regarding the MC website.

During a meeting today, the team that developed the software for the work informed inspectors and assistant town planners (ATPs) concerned about the functioning of the website. 

The building plan management system will automate the end-to-end process from empanelment of architect, online submission of documents, online fee payment, architect registration, building plan approval and giving plinth level approval to completion/occupation certificate. The system is running in other areas of Punjab since August last year.

At present, the MC’s building branch has only one computer system, which also does not have internet or WiFi connectivity. As per the online building plan approval system, all inspectors in the branch will manage applications regarding their respective areas. 

MC officials could not be contacted for their comments on the matter.

Engineers and architects in the region have raised questions over the software and discrepancies in relation to proper colour coding for every kind of building. 

Fatehjeet Singh, president of a building designers and supervisors’ body, said, “Some problems have been raised regarding the colour coding of buildings to be demolished. The software has also posed issues in relation to fee calculation.”

Abhishek of ABM Knowledgeware Private Limited, which prepared the software, said, “All registered architects and engineers and officials of the municipal bodies can access the website. The website will make it easy for people to apply and get timely sanction for building plan. Their issues will be resolved once they start using it.”