The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), in a major decision, has decided to bring non-residential developments also under the mandatory site layout approvals in projects to be taken up under its jurisdiction. A proposal has already been sent to the government for approval and a nod is expected soon.
Till now, the Layout Based Approval System has been applicable for according permissions to development of residential layouts . The present approach for permission related to group residential development follows scrutiny of layouts while for non-residential group development as in industries, institutions and commercial, the examination is just limited to Building Permission. The HMDA feels that non-insistence or scrutiny of the layout of non-residential development as in housing was not conducive for planned development, road network, open spaces and integrating the Master Plan proposals.
Group developments
The Metropolitan Commissioner, Neerabh Kumar Prasad, argues that for successful implementation of the Master Plan and planned development of the city, there is a need to scrutinise all group developments, whether they are residential or non-residential, by way of site layout approval along with building permissions.
However, the proposal looks at covering group developments above 4,000 square metres only and not insisting on site layout for smaller sites i.e., plots below 4,000 square metres. “For the smaller sites, the present practice of according building permission should be adequate,” says an official. The HMDA proposal awaiting a nod from the government looks at insisting on site layout for factors such as internal circulation plan, parking requirements, service and utility plan and provision of open space.
