The online system will be a huge relief for the builders, who are averse to long delay by two government agencies – Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in granting approval. However, the builders are skeptical about speedy implementation and have urged the government to put the project on fast track. 

“Even though the government anhad nounced such online system a few months ago, it is yet to be implemented. The concerned officials should sense the fact that the construction industry is already badly hit due to pending applications for getting approval and insufficient sand,” said a realty developer. 

“We welcome the government’s announcement. At the same time, we raise suspicion as to how effective the new system will serve the developers since thousands of applications, filed for regularising unapproved plots and layouts, are yet to be processed under amnesty scheme,” said N Govindasamy, president of Tamil Nadu Construction Engineers and Contractors Association (TNCECA). He also suggested that the government could rope in private agencies to complete the work. 

A senior official of Housing and Urban Development Department, seeking anonymity, said the CMDA and DTCP have been instructed to process the pending applications within March. “We along with IIT-M are in the process of developing the new system, after which planning permission will be given within 45 days,” added the official.