As part of the government’s measures to curb bribery and reduce red tape, the Greater Chennai Corporation has directed its town planning department to issue planning permissions and building permits within a maximum period of 27 days.
To promote transparency and eliminate unnecessary interactions, officials have been instructed not to summon applicants, architects, or engineers to government offices during the scrutiny process. All procedures related to applications will be handled online, and all payments must be made digitally, ensuring a contactless and accountable system.
The initiative aims to ensure time-bound service delivery, prevent delays, and strengthen transparency in the approval process. By reducing manual intervention, the government seeks to improve public confidence in urban administration.
Under powers delegated by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, the Greater Chennai Corporation issues building approvals for:
- Residential buildings up to two floors
- Commercial buildings up to three floors
- Industrial and institutional buildings with a height of up to 18.3 metres, with no limit on built-up area
The corporation processes an average of 550 to 600 planning permissions and building permits every month, reflecting the scale of development activity in the city.
Once all valid documents are submitted, applications must be approved within three working days. Following approval, applicants must complete fee payments online, after which executive engineers are required to digitally sign the approved plans and permits within 24 hours, enabling applicants to access the documents immediately through the online portal.
Officials have also been directed to strictly follow the “first in, first out” principle while processing applications, ensuring that older applications are cleared before newer ones.
These reforms are expected to significantly streamline the approval process, minimize opportunities for malpractice, and support faster, transparent, and well-regulated urban development in Chennai.
