CREDAI Andhra Pradesh Welcomes 3-Level Building Approval, OC Mechanism to Speed Up Clearances
CREDAI Andhra Pradesh has welcomed the state government’s decision to introduce a uniform three-level mechanism for supervisory checks of buildings and processing of Occupancy Certificates (OCs) across urban local bodies and Urban Development Authorities.
CREDAI Andhra Pradesh president Bayana Srinivasa Rao said the reform would reduce procedural delays and bring greater clarity and accountability to the building approval process.
“The three-level system is a welcome move as it can reduce unnecessary file movement and bring greater clarity to the responsibilities of Town Planning officials. It should help speed up inspections and Occupancy Certificate processing without compromising regulatory oversight,” Rao said.
Principal Secretary (Municipal Administration and Urban Development) S. Suresh Kumar said the new mechanism would be implemented across Nagar Panchayats, Municipalities, Municipal Corporations and Urban Development Authorities.
The earlier system involved multiple levels of Town Planning officials based on site area, often delaying supervisory inspections and the issuance of OCs. Under the revised framework, the process has been restricted to three levels, with the Level-3 officer serving as the confirming authority.
The mechanism covers six categories of buildings, ranging from sites up to 100 sq. metres to those above 4,000 sq. metres, excluding high-rise buildings. The Ward Planning and Regulatory Secretary will be the Level-1 officer in all categories, while the seniority of the Level-2 and Level-3 officers will depend on the site size.
The same three-level structure will apply to OC processing. In the absence of the prescribed cadre officer, the next higher-ranking officer will exercise the required powers.
Rao said the timely issuance of OCs was crucial for both developers and homebuyers.
“A time-bound OC process will help developers complete projects and enable homebuyers to take possession without avoidable delays. Uniform implementation across urban local bodies will be key to achieving the intended results,” he said.
The government expects the new mechanism to reduce file movement, strengthen accountability, and speed up building inspections and OC processing.