The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has made notable progress in improving its building plan approval process over the past two months. The online approval system, introduced in 2016, mandates that applications are processed within 15 days, including notifying applicants of any deficiencies within this period. Previously, the system was fraught with delays, with only 12% of shortfall notifications issued in the first seven days. A significant majority, 88%, were communicated during the second week, often on the 13th, 14th, or 15th days. This left applicants with insufficient time to address these deficiencies. Final building approvals were similarly delayed, with only 20% processed during the first week, while 80% spilled over into the second week or beyond.
Recent reforms have brought significant improvements. Currently, 71% of building plans are approved within the first week, with only 29% requiring a longer timeframe. Additionally, 32% of shortfall notifications are now issued during the first week, reducing second-week notifications to 68%. The GVMC handles an average of 5,000 to 6,000 building plan approvals annually across the city’s eight zones.
GVMC commissioner Dr P Sampath Kumar explained that the civic body undertook a thorough analysis of the approval process to identify and address bottlenecks. He shared that previously, 896 shortfall notifications were raised predominantly in the second week or near the end of the 15-day window. With reforms in place, 71% of approvals now occur in the first week, and 326 shortfall notifications are communicated earlier. The commissioner noted that the introduction of a monitoring system has been instrumental in tracking the status of files and pinpointing delays at specific stages or officer levels. He described the process as fully systematised, ensuring faster resolution of applications.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government is working on further streamlining building and layout approval procedures. The government recently approved recommendations from a committee that proposed reforms for the town planning department. One major change is that municipal department approval will no longer be required for building construction plans up to 15 metres high, roughly four storeys.
Officials announced that the new system, expected to be operational by the end of the year, will feature a single-window system. By integrating departmental servers with the municipal administration, the system aims to eliminate months-long delays caused by multiple departmental approvals. Seven committees visited 10 states to study existing systems and provided recommendations to ensure faster and more efficient approvals.
The GVMC’s recent reforms demonstrate the potential for technology-driven improvements in municipal processes. By addressing key bottlenecks, the corporation has drastically reduced approval times, benefitting applicants and boosting efficiency. Alongside these changes, the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposed single-window system and simplified approvals for smaller buildings promise to enhance the state’s construction ecosystem. Together, these initiatives mark a positive shift towards more streamlined and applicant-friendly urban development processes.
