CDA to fast-track building plans approval

ISLAMABAD: There is good news for the people of the capital; they will now be able to get their residential or commercial building plans (map) approved on fast track by paying an additional fee.

The residential plan will be approved in two days and the commercial map in three days for which express desks will be set up. The CDA board approved the plan, which will save the citizens’ time and hassle.

According to sources, the present process of approval of a building plan under the ICT Building Regulations 2020 is 21 days, but in practice many citizens want their map to be approved quickly. But the shortage of staff, abundance of applications and due to other reasons, their requests are not entertained. To resolve the issue, CDA Building Control Section DG Faisal Naeem sent a summary to the CDA board in which it was suggested that a facilitation centre should be set up to process maps on fast track. People who wish to get their plan approved will submit their building plan

(drawings) along with relevant documents directly to the centre. In the first phase, residential plots of up to 60x90 square feet in CDA sectors and approved housing schemes will be approved in two days only.

The building plan of the commercial plots of 500 square meters with a covered area less than 10,000 feet will be approved in three days. Besides the scrutiny fee, additional fees will also have to be paid. An urgent fee for a 365 square yard residential plot will be Rs20,000 and for a larger plot it would be Rs30,000. The urgent fee for a 5,000 square feet plot will be Rs50,000 and that of a bigger plot Rs75,000. One window system will be created in the center for the purpose. Three express desks will be set up to process the maps. An assistant director will be in charge of each desk. Estate management officers will also be available at the desk. Special allowances will be given to officers and staff. The assistant director will get a Rs30,000 monthly allowance, deputy director Rs20,000, estate management officer Rs15,000 and stenographer or assistant Rs10,000. The CDA board has approved the summary.