Punjab clears new building rules

To ensure holistic and planned urban development, Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa on Tuesday gave nod to new building rules, which were approved by the Cabinet and will be applicable across the State, outside municipal limits.

He said that these rules would be notified shortly and made available for general public.

“With the implementation of theses building rules, the urban development and building construction activities will get a boost, which will be helpful for the economic development of the state,” he said.

He said that now a developer could purchase unlimited FAR for group housing, commercial, public office, hotel and industrial buildings, increase in permissible FAR for residential plotted development and educational buildings and new provision for rental housing or hostel, dhaba, miniplex and multiplex, wholesale trade or warehouse or integrated freight complex and commercial use in Group Housing projects has been increased from 0.20 to one percent.

Bajwa said that five percent additional ground coverage has been permitted in case of retail service industry, ground coverage for commercial building has been increased from 40 to 45 percent, new provision had been made for Orphanage Home, Old Age Home, Children's Institute or School for Mentally Challenged or Physically Handicapped Persons and relaxation in parking norms for Universities, Orphanage Home, Old Age Home, Children's Institute or School for Mentally challenged or Physically Handicapped Persons.

No scrutiny fees for building plan approval of school or care centre for Disabled persons or Mentally Challenged Persons, Orphanage and Old Age Home shall be chargeable and additional five percent floor area ratio (FAR) free of charge and 100 percent exemption of building scrutiny fee has been allowed on submission of Green Building Certificate, he said.

The Minister said that mandatory provision for rooftop solar photovoltaic installation for electricity generation in residential, educational, government, hospital, commercial buildings and group housing complexes has been made, 15 percent of the total covered area in all category of building shall be permissible for the housing of staff or workers and for large campus or universities, IIT, IIM, up to 30 percent of the total covered area (FAR) can be utilized for residential use for essential staff, provisions of latest National Building Code-2016 has been incorporated in these building rules.

Notably, the Punjab Urban Development Authority Building Rules were enacted in 1996 which were redrafted and notified in 2013. These rules were amended from time to time.

The Town and Country Planning Organization of India (TCPOI) had framed Model Building Bylaws in ear 2016 and National Building Code-2016 was also published in 2016. TCPOI had requested all the states to adopt and implement these rules.

Various organizations have also requested the State Government to revise the building rules taking into consideration the problems being faced by the owners of different category of the buildings outside municipal limits and due to the technological advancement in building construction activities and construction material.

While drafting the new building rules suggestions from the co-departments and general public were sought by uploading the draft in the public domain. The valid suggestions received were considered and duly incorporated in these rules.

With the objective of simplifying the building rules, the Punjab Government, while amending the Punjab Urban Development Authority Building Rules-2013, has now prepared new Building rules namely the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Building Rules-2018.