In Bengaluru,developers push government to speed up approvals as delays bog down housing projects. Despite reforms aimed at urban growth,bureaucratic hurdles remain,affecting home deliveries and timelines.
Karnataka government eased occupancy certificate (OC) rules. At first,buildings on plots up to 1,200 square feet were exempt from needing OC for electricity. This was expanded to plots of 2,400 square feet if they met compliance. The state also pushes for quicker online approvals to streamline sanctions.
But many developers say these changes haven't fixed ongoing issues . Credai Karnataka,the state's real estate group,approached the chief minister and urban development minister about delays plaguing projects. President Bhaskar T Nagendrappa noted that Town Planning Act requires monthly planning meetings,but cities like Ballari and Mysuru face months of delays. It's tough on builders and buyers.
Developers cite e-khata delays,conflicting rules,and irregular meetings. These lead to cash flow issues and dent investor confidence. Lengthy non-objection certificates (NOCs),conditional clearances from utilities,and slow department approvals add to woes. Builders want fixed timelines and better coordination to ensure timely completions .
One builder pointed out that shifting approvals from Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to Greater Bangalore Authority (GBA) caused major delays,forcing plan resubmissions. Projects in Jakkur,Electronics City,and Sarjapur Road stalled for six months,far longer than the previous 15 days to two months.
“What sector needs is true single-window clearance to consolidate approvals,” said Vivek Garg,founding director of NVT Quality Lifestyle. “Consolidating approvals within three months would transform industry.”
Kiran Venugopal,CEO of Bricks and Milestones,agreed,stating current system barely improves timelines. Delays at each stage disrupt planning and inflate costs. Slow occupancy certificates delay electricity and home possession,impacting buyers' finances and plans.
Developers aren't asking for special treatment,just consistency in approval processes . Ramani Sastri,chairman of Sterling Developers,believes streamlined procedures and accountability would ease business without losing oversight . He emphasized an efficient system benefits developers,homebuyers,and Bengaluru's growth.
As city faces rising housing demand,call for predictable approval process grows. Builders argue cutting delays could slash project costs by 15-20%. Can government tackle these bottlenecks?…
