The urban affairs ministry has urged architects to contribute towards improving the ranking of the country in 'ease of doing business', saying it will help people in getting building plans sanctioned smoothly, officials said today. Last evening, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) organised a workshop on reforms under ease of doing business, in which representatives from multiple agencies participated, a senior SDMC official said. Besides around 60 architects, senior officers of Ministry of Urban Affairs, no-objection certificate-facilitating departments of Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC), Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Airports Authority of India, National Monuments Authority, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, among other agencies, were present. Representative of forest and industry departments, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC), under the Delhi government, discoms, commissioners of three corporations, and senior engineers of 12 zones, also attended the session. Urban Affairs Secretary D S Mishra exhorted the architects to become partners in working towards improving the system, so that the ranking of the country in 'Ease of Doing Business' could be "substantially improved", the SDMC said. "This will facilitate the public in getting their (construction) plans sanctioned smoothly and without any visit to offices," Mishra was quoted as saying in a statement by the SDMC. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is keen on making the system more pointed, result-oriented and flawless, hence, it has been decided to organise more interactive workshops on a regular basis, he said. He announced that the next workshop will be organised this month. "In order to get a respectable ranking, being prepared by the World Bank on the basis of the performance in this field, the role of architects becomes crucial," Mishra said, and urged them to be candid in giving feedback. SDMC Commissioner Puneet Goel said the online system for sanctioning construction permit has come a long way with substantial reduction in the number of procedures, number of days and cost involved. "Despite a few teething problems, the new facility of deemed NOC from no-objection certificate facilitating departments and agencies after the lapse of 15 days, has since become smooth," Goel said.
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