CHENNAI: The state government has made an announcement to replace a comprehensive scheme to resolve long-pending disputes involving TNHB (Tamil Nadu Housing Board) acquired lands, while significantly expanding the powers of local bodies and introducing faster, largely digital building approval mechanisms. The previous DMK government had implemented a similar scheme to release 4,396.44 acres of land involved in decades-old TNHB acquisition proceedings.
Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar, in the Assembly on Friday, said, “The new scheme will cover land parcels where compensation awards have been passed but possession has not been handed over to the TNHB, besides lands that remain unutilised due to encroachments or are caught up in legal disputes. The government will review such land parcels and decide whether to retain them, utilise them for future requirements, or release them, based on necessity.”
The government has also proposed an end-to-end online system for land-use reclassification, under which applicants will be able to track their files at every stage instead of physically following up with respective offices.
In a major move to ease building approvals, the self-certification limit for residential buildings has been increased from 3,500 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft for structures of up to Ground+2 floors or Stilt+3 floors. Self-certification will also be available for small commercial buildings with a floor space index (FSI) area of up to 1,500 sq ft.
A third-party certification mechanism is being introduced for larger buildings, letting authorised professionals to verify compliance and facilitate approvals without applicants having to visit local body offices.
The third-party certification system will cover residential buildings with an FSI area of up to 8,070 sq ft (750 sq m), commercial buildings up to 3,230 sq ft (300 sq m) and industrial buildings up to 26,900 sq ft (2,500 sq m) in approved SIDCO, SIPCOT, and ELCOT estates.
“The government will also simplify the conversion of agricultural wetlands in non-planned areas by replacing the existing district collector NOC process with a time-bound clearance involving the town and country planning, agriculture, water resources, and revenue departments,” he added.
Key announcements
A digital portal for Transferable Development Rights at Rs 1 crore
A smartphone application for autorickshaw and taxi operations
Grid of Roads plan in Chennai metropolitan area at Rs 12 crore
Road infrastructure upgrades at Sathangadu and Koyambedu markets at Rs 20 crore
Expansion of the Koyambedu Wholesale Market with additional shops at Rs 7.5 crore
Reconstruction of 12,648 dilapidated multi-storey tenements at Rs 2,882 crore
Construction of 462 housing units for homeless families in Perambur at Rs 111 crore