Now, regularise properties online

The new building by-laws will allow residents of New Delhi to regularise their properties online through a single-window system.

The main attraction of the Unified Building Bye Law, 2016, is that no building plan is required for plots of up to 105 sq metre from the respective civic agency.

“The number of properties, with a total area of 105 sq metre, is quite high across the city. Under the ‘saral scheme’ of the new building by-laws, an owner does not have to take a civic agency's prior permission for carrying out construction in a plot up to 105 sq metre,” said an official with the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

“Owners only need to get a certificate from an architect saying that the construction is in accordance with the building by-laws,” the official said, adding “the onus of adhering to building by-laws is solely on the public now. For the scheme to be successful, they have to behave responsibly.”

The new building by-laws also give relaxation in the Floor Area Ratio (FAR). “As per the new building by-laws, balcony with a maximum width of 1.5 metre will be allowed free of FAR for residential areas. Continuous balconies around the structure is allowed as long as it does not exceed 40% of the total open area,” said the official.

The official added that the move also aims at reducing corruption. “At least, now people won’t be troubled by the officials, and they don’t have to bribe them to get away from the illegally constructed portions at their homes, like extended balconies,” the official said.

“With the introduction of the new citizen-friendly building by-laws, there will be less interface between the people and civic agency officials,” the official added.

One of the salient features of the new building by-laws is that building plans will be approved within 30 days for plots of 105 sq metre up to 10,000 sq metre.

“The height of a room has been raised from 3 metre to 4.8 metre. In residential areas, the minimum width of staircase has been increased from 0.9 metre to 1 metre for human comfort and safety,” the official said.

People welcome move

People have welcomed the new building by-laws.  “I know a few people who have decided to regularise their properties as there is relaxation on the regularisation fee,” said Ashok Kothari, a resident of Mayur Vihar.