G.O.(Ms).No.181, Simplification of Layout and Sub-division Approval Process, 2020

What the government order does

The Housing and Urban Development Department issued G.O.(Ms).No.181 on 9 December 2020 after considering proposals from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the Director of Town and Country Planning. The procedure is intended to reduce delay in layout and subdivision approvals while retaining checks by planning authorities and local bodies.

Who is affected

G.O.(Ms).No.181 affects applicants seeking approval for layouts or subdivisions, including developers and landowners. It also directs the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, the Directorate of Town and Country Planning, the Greater Chennai Corporation and other local bodies on their respective responsibilities.

Gift of land and planning documents

The approval procedure includes the following steps:

• The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or the Directorate of Town and Country Planning must verify compliance with the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019, and finalise the layout.
• Land earmarked for roads, Open Space Reservation and public purposes must be gifted by the applicant through a registered gift deed in the name of the concerned local body.
• The planning permit, layout sketch and original gift deed must be forwarded to the concerned local body.
• The Greater Chennai Corporation must obtain council ratification for taking over the gifted land and physical possession of the road and Open Space Reservation areas.
• Other local bodies must obtain ratification from the competent authority under the existing delegation of powers and take physical possession of the relevant areas.

Fees, amenities and final approval

For layouts within the Greater Chennai Corporation, the existing procedure of collecting necessary fees, including charges for roads, storm water drains and street lights, continues. The same approach applies to other urban local bodies under the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration. After collecting the fees, the final layout sketch, planning authority permit and local body approval are issued directly to the applicant.

Other local bodies may issue the final documents only after collecting necessary fees and confirming that the applicant has provided tar roads, storm water drains, water supply facilities with the required overhead tank, street lights and other amenities according to local body standards.