Spotted a news clip in Pune newspaper (ToI) this week that said - PCMC (Pimpri Chinchwad, a Pune suburb) is planning to make sanctioning of building plans an online process. So:
"At present, builders are required to submit the papers and the necessary documents pertaining to building plans to the PCMC. The civic body has now developed a software to scrutinise the papers once they are submitted on-line ... The software will help in checking all aspects of the building plans and confirm whether they comply with the building bylaws, TDR and FSI restrictions, etc."
The software will automatically check if the submitted plan complies with the bylaws, TDR, FSI etc ... hmm, cool! And what if this "database" of building plans was to be public? On seeing a 'suspicious' building, any activist citizen can go check this database, and submit a complaint. Further, before you finalize purchase of your flat, you would be able to check the legal status of the building. Thats the power of transparency that egovernance brings, and helps citizens share the vigilance work with civic bodies, isn't it?
As per this news clip (Online plan clearance likely from January), Hyderabad too is planning to take building plan submission and approval process online. Same news clip talks of Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad as cities that already have some sort of of computerized town planning system in place. Pune Corporation's in-house software system (seems to have won an award last year) works like this - feed the plan, software says if it meets the norms. As per this news report, Pune plans to put this software up on its website so that citizens can directly submit their plans on the Internet.
Bangalore, where are you!?
PS: I think this is the software Pune City uses to automate scanning of building plans - Softtech's AutoDCR.
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OnLine Building Sanctions - A Great Start
SB, thanks.
This is a step in the right direction, & as commented by SB, if all records are available on-line, it can go a long way in keeping a check on violations by concerned citizens.
The govt machinery can never be up to the task of enforcing violations, particularly in bangalore, & corruption has been widespread.
I repeat - Bangalore, where are you in this technology age ? :)