Tweak in building bylaws after 33 years

The new building bylaws are set to be notified within the next couple of days. Delhi government has agreed to all modifications, including the proposal of municipal corporations on cell phone towers, further defining procedures to be followed in the implementation of the plans.

The approval comes a little over two months after the urban development ministry notified the unified building bylaws in March, 2016.

Once notified, the municipal corporations will be able to implement the new bylaws. Importantly, one can apply for approval of building plans online under a single window system. The plans will have to be approved or rejected within a month from the date of application.

Under the new bylaws, sunken courtyards will be allowed, while in large plots basements can be built up to the six metre setback line. Balconies can also have a depth of five feet against the earlier three feet, while depth restrictions for basements have been removed. No sanctions will be required for buildings on plots that have an area of up to 105 sq m.

With a focus on green buildings, structures with a built-up area between 20,000 and 1,50,000 sq m will now be able to get environmental clearance from urban local bodies. However, all buildings on a plot size of more than 105 sq m will have to conform to mandatory green building norms, including water conservation and management, solar energy utilisation, energy efficiency and management for obtaining sanctions. The new bylaws have also mandated measures for ensuring safety in structural design and earthquake disaster mitigation.

The new bylaws have been notified after 33 years with the last revision taking place in 1983. NDMC, which is under the Centre, had already adopted the new bylaws in April, 2016.

SOURCE: magicbricks.com