According to a Government Order dated February 5, the competent authorities would regularise the plots located in layouts for which the in-principle approvals for the framework were accorded before November 3, 2018.

“The plot owners can apply even after November 3, 2018, for regularisation of the plot under the regularisation of unapproved plots and layouts scheme in such cases where the in-principle approval of layout framework is under consideration and applications received before November 3, 2018,” the order stated.

However, plot owners who had applied on or after November 4, would have to pay regularisation charges in addition to scrutiny fee and development charges.

This decision to allow applications from plot owners was taken at a meeting held few weeks ago, and the planning officials are awaiting the formal order to allow applications. “The regularisation of the plot relating to cases of unapproved layouts in respect of which neither the individual plot holder concerned nor the developer concerned has applied for regularisation on or before November 3, 2018, shall not be eligible for consideration of regularisation,” read the order.

The government announced regularisation of unapproved plots and layouts in May 2017 and closed the scheme on November 3, 2018, after providing two extensions.

“Even though a circular was sent pertaining to the issue earlier, we could not accept the applications to regularise the plots without the Government Order. As the GO has been issued now, we can accept and regularise unapproved plots,” a Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) official said.

For plots within the city Corporation, regularisation charges of Rs 110 per square metre would be collected if the applications received from November 4, 2018 to May 3, 2019. For municipal areas, Rs 66 per sqm would be collected, while plots in town panchayats and village panchayats would attract a charge of Rs 33 per sqm. 

For applications received from May 4, 2019 to November 3, 2019, Rs 125, Rs 75 and Rs 37.50 sqm for Corporation, municipality and rural panchayat areas, respectively. For the applications received from November 4, regularisation charges would be Rs 150, Rs 90 and Rs 45.