TS govt implements TSbPASS: What you need to know about new building rules

Hyderabad: Telangana government on Thursday implemented TSbPASS (Telangana State Building approval and self-certification system) to ensure transparency and time-bound approval of building plans.

The government had approved TSbPASS rules for GHMC on November 16, 2020.

As per TSbPASS Rules, a Special task Force will be constituted at the Zonal level. It will be headed by Zonal Commissioner and shall have representatives of Engineering wings, Revenue (Tax Section), and Police/Vigilance. The task force will be responsible to detect the unauthorized constructions/unauthorized layouts and take immediate action. Joint Commissioner/Deputy Commissioners within Zonal offices will be Nodal officers for STF. Two enforcement teams will be constituted at each zone.

It is also proposed to reorganize the Town Planning Section in GHMC in view of the self-certification approval system and post verification by multi-disciplinary teams. With more focus on planning it is suggested to reorganize the Town Planning Section of GHMC with the following functional cells.

1. Planning & Policy- Preparation of Detailed Planning Schemes, Local Area Planning, Building Rules, and Regulations, etc. Local Area Plans are being prepared for fast-growing areas to identify critical issues and suggest suitable measures to address those issues.

2. Development- Road Widening, Land Acquisition, Slip/Link Roads- A development cell has been created at each Zonal Commissioner Office level to exclusively work on road widening and nala widening. One Deputy City Planner is posted in each zone to look after road widening. The Development Cell will look after the entire task of acquisition of land for road widening, formation of new link/ slip roads, and for nala widening.

3. Special Projects- Heritage, Lake Development, Implementation of Land Pooling schemes- The government has issued orders in August 2021 for Constitution of Heritage committees at 3 levels viz., Telangana State Heritage Authority (TSHA) at State level; District Heritage and Precincts Committee (DHPC) for each District (except GHMC area) at District level and Greater Hyderabad Heritage and Precincts Committee GHMC/HMDA area. A separate cell at Head Office has been formed to look after Heritage-related works and recently the GHMC Heritage Committee meeting was held on 8th November 2021.

4. Ts BPASS- Relating to Building/Layout permissions- As per TSbPASS Act and Rules, Instant Registration for plots up to 75 sq yards and Instant Approval System for plots up to 600 sq yards and ground plus 2 floors is being given. For instant approvals, post verification is being done by Circle TP officials within 15 days. So far 2092 instant registrations and 6562 instant approvals given.

With regard to proposals in plots above 600 sq yards and of height above 10 mt, the same is being processed through Single Window at Zonal and Head Office level. 1141 number of permissions have been issued under a single-window so far.

5. Urban Information System- Digital Door Numbering, GIS- A separate cell is set up for preparation of updated GIS base map and Digital Door Numbering under Director (Planning). A comprehensive GIS base map is being prepared for the entire Hyderabad city using the latest satellite imageries procured from NRSA. There are 54 layers in the base map such as roads, land use, buildings, layouts, nalas, lakes, parks, green areas, administrative boundaries, dumping yards, public utilities, etc. The updated GIS base map will help in decision-making in revenue, planning, and engineering sections.