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Tamil Nadu has introduced a 'deemed NOC' system via the CMDA's single-window portal to speed up high-rise building approvals. If departments don't act within a structured 30-day timeline, NOCs are automatically approved. This digital platform integrates 11 departments, from Fire Services to the Airports Authority, streamlining previously delayed processes. Since CMDA's portal launch in 2022, monthly approvals have doubled, but NOC delays persisted. The new mechanism tackles this, while ensuring safety through random inspections. Industry leaders, including CREDAI, have welcomed the reform, calling it a game-changer for transparency and project speed. This move aligns with Tamil Nadu's broader ease-of-business push in real estate development.
Tamil Nadu has taken a bold administrative leap by launching a deemed No Objection Certificate (NOC) system through the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority's (CMDA) single-window portal. Designed to fast-track the planning permission process for high-rise buildings, the system automatically clears NOCs if concerned departments do not act within the specified time frame. Advertisement
The new protocol brings together approvals from over 11 key departments and agencies ranging from the Fire and Rescue Services, Metro Rail, and Airports Authority of India to Water Resources, PWD, and environmental departments-all into one centralized digital interface. Under this framework, a structured 30-day timeline is in place. The first seven days are earmarked for inspections and document review by the departments, followed by 14 days during which the applicant must upload all necessary documentation. If the concerned department fails to act in the final 10-day window, the NOC is automatically deemed approved and reflected on the CMDA portal.
This mechanism aims to address one of the long-standing bottlenecks in real estate development-delays in departmental NOCs. Since the CMDA's online portal was launched in mid-2022, monthly planning permissions have increased from an average of 35 to around 70. Similarly, approvals for high-rise buildings, which earlier stood at 60 annually, have now crossed 70 per year. Yet, despite the surge in applications and improved coordination, the time taken to receive NOCs often extended beyond 45 days, leading to project delays and cost overruns.
The introduction of deemed NOCs is expected to significantly cut down this wait time. To ensure that the new system doesn't compromise on safety or accountability, random inspections and compliance audits will continue to be carried out. This balance between automation and oversight is a key element of the policy.
This reform is part of a broader initiative by the Tamil Nadu government to promote ease of doing business in the state. A time-bound framework now governs decision-making across multiple departments involved in real estate approvals, with specific deadlines ranging between 15 to 30 days. If those deadlines are breached without action, approvals are granted by default. This rule is not just limited to NOCs but applies across other areas of project clearances as well.
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