Need Centre nod for building repairs? BMC will get it for you

You will no longer have to run around for permissions from Central government authorities if your building needs to be repaired or redeveloped.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) new move may make life easier for you. As part of its initiative to improve the ease of doing business in the city, the BMC has now decided taking on the task of getting such permissions from central government departments such as railways, civil aviation establishment, ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) and defence ministry.

The civic body has decided to take up the responsibility of obtaining all such permissions from the authorities concerned. In fact, the process to get permissions from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Airport Authority of India (AAI) through the BMC has already been completed, while integration is still on to include the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Environment and Forest and Ministry of Defence. The BMC will launch this facility once integration of all government agencies in the new system is completed.

This is part of major reforms to be taken by the BMC to improve the index of ease of doing business in Mumbai.

In Mumbai, housing projects often need permission from various government agencies. For instance, a project close to the premises of Mumbai airport needs AAI’s permission.

Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said they are working on a system that not only integrates the internal process within the municipal corporation, but also the process outside its purview. The BMC commissioner was speaking at the ‘Maharashtra Investment Seminar’ jointly organised by Maharashtra government and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) last week.

“If a person applies online with the BMC for certain permission for a project, which also need NOC or permission from other government agencies, then he or she doesn’t need to go to them for the same. The BMC will forward the proposal to the government agency concerned and ensure permission is sought in a month,” Mehta said.

This means a person will be able to get all requisite permissions from various government agencies by submitting a single online form, which will save time and also speed up projects, Mehta said.