LUDHIANA: You will now have to apply online to get your building plans approved. With the January 15 deadline over, the municipal corporation will not accept the applications manually.

The local bodies department had started online building plan scheme in August last year. It got delayed as the system had to be streamlined.

“All roadblocks have now been cleared to give Ludhianvis a hassle-free service. Architects, however, want the MC to make the process simplified and extend the deadline for accepting applications manually,” said a civic body official.

The scheme will help people get their plans approved without visiting the MC offices. “The plans will be submitted by architects and approved by MC building branch officials. Both have been given log-ins and passwords to ensure transparency,” he added.

Another official of MC said, “The system has started accepting building plans for residential and commercial buildings. But, it will take time for industrial plans, which are being accepted manually.”

Assistant town planner Vijay Kumar said, “No application will be accepted manually now. Residents should come through architects and apply online. The plans will be approved in a month. With this, residents will not have to make rounds of MC offices.”