Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 1: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Thursday became the state’s first civic body to issue building layout plans in association with an authorised partner, VFS Global, according to the 74th constitutional amendment.
The civic body would issue plans for multi-storied buildings of less than 15 metres height.
Ironically, BMC does not have adequate space to run the new town planning office and a temporary office has been set up at the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) adjacent to the corporation office at Vivekanand Marg. Several corporators have mocked BMC officials for not being able to find a permanent place for its town planning office. The permanent BMC town planning office is likely to be opened at BMC Bhawani Mall-cum-Multiplex at Saheed Nagar in two months.
Earlier, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) had roped in VFS Global as process manager to issue building plan approvals to multi-storied buildings falling under BDA’s jurisdiction. Later, the firm was supposed to render services to the civic body as well. Two citizen service centres of BDA — where people can apply for plan approvals — that are managed by the firm have already been thrown open at Chandrashekharpur and Kalinga Nagar K-7 commercial complex in December. The building regulator is issuing layout plans of buildings that are on the city’s outskirts and do not fall under the BMC limits.
At BMC town planning office, people whose houses come under BMC’s 67 wards in the city can apply to get their layout plans.
According to officials, after thoroughly screening documents submitted by applicants, the firm would send its recommendations to the civic body’s town planning cell to issue the layout plans.
BMC has appointed Bandita Mohapatra as senior municipal planner to head the new department.
“The move is in line with the constitutional amendment and has been initiated for the benefit of residents,” mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said.
Municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar said the BMC town planning office in association with private firm would make the process simpler for residents who till now had to face difficulties in getting plan approvals.