New Haryana Building Code makes provisions for the disabled

Buildings in Haryana are set to be disabled-friendly as the new Haryana Building Code, 2016, has made special provisions for the differently abled. The new building code also streamlines various building rules and brings uniformity in construction across the state.

Documents of the new code accessed by Hindustan Times says that each building has to reserve at least one entrance accessible to the differently-abled, equipped with proper signage. Further, the differently-abled will have to be provided with surface parking for minimum two cars with a maximum distance of 30 metres from the entrance. Also, each building has to have a dedicated lift that is wheel chair accessible, an officials said.

Sources said the code has replaced the Haryana Municipal Building Bye-laws, 1982, building rules in the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Rules, 1965, and the draft Haryana Municipal Corporation Building By-laws, 2014.

The move is expected to end the confusion over implementation of building rules of different development agencies, authorities and departments. Earlier, the multiplicity of rules made it difficult for entrepreneurs and industrialists to execute their projects uniformly.

An official in the urban local bodies said that people who are applying for building plan approvals and occupation certificates prior to July 1 have the leeway to choose to follow any one of the three rules -- the Haryana Municipal Building By-laws, 1982, building rules in the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Rules, 1965, or the newly implemented Haryana Building Code, 2016.

“We have received the order from the state government and are assessing its findings. Necessary changes and clearances for issuing occupation certificates or approval of building plans will be mandated in accordance with the new order,” Sudhir Singh Chouhan, senior town planner of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon, said.