KMC streamlines home construction process for small plot owners

Starting in January, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is set to introduce a special initiative for owners of small plots, allowing them to commence construction of houses within a week of submitting building plans.Departing from the previous procedure of obligatory plan submission to the KMC buildings department and enduring lengthy clearance waits, the civic administration will now empower owners of plots measuring no more than seven cottahs to obtain plan approval by involving an architect or a licensed building surveyor (LBS), bypassing the need for buildings department intervention.A KMC official mentioned that necessary preparations are underway to ensure the new system is user-friendly before its implementation.To acquaint architects and LBS with the upcoming changes, the KMC buildings department conducted an interactive session, adhering to a modified KMC building rule. According to this rule, all plot owners seeking to construct a building or apartment must engage an architect or an LBS and apply online for a house sanction plan.Once an architect or LBS uploads the plan, it will be automatically considered sanctioned by the civic authority upon calculation and payment of the building sanction fee.Following the construction of the plinth area, KMC buildings department inspectors will be dispatched to assess compliance with the sanctioned plan. A KMC buildings department official emphasised that any deviation from the approved plan would result in the revocation of the building plan.While routine inspections are planned five to six months after the foundation and plinth area construction, another KMC official suggested that, under special circumstances, surprise visits by civic inspectors might also be conducted to identify and address any anomalies.