Between August 2017 and October this year, Madurai Corporation had processed and approved building plans for 6,169 applications submitted online from the four zones, said Corporation Commissioner S. Visakan here on Monday.
Two years ago, the Corporation launched online facility for applications seeking plan approval for construction of new buildings. Madurai Corporation has 100 wards (including the 28 wards annexed) and they are divided divided into four zones: zone 1 (ward 1-23), zone 2 (ward 24-49), zone 3 (ward 50-74) and zone 4 (ward 75-100). Zone 1 covers the suburbs, mostly the wards annexed to the Corporation. Zone 2 comprises areas in the vicinity of Government Rajaji Hospital. Zone 3 comprises Chintamani and Villapuram and zone 4 has Simmakkal, Tirupparankundram and Airport areas.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Visakan said the State government, through a G.O, allowed owners of residential plots that were not approved in Corporation, municipal and panchayat limits to apply online and get approval under a one-time regularisation scheme by remitting a fee. A large number of applicants, a majority of them from the outskirts, jumped at the chance and got approval for their plots.
Interestingly, the applications were more from the annexed wards in the suburbs of Madurai. There were more applications for individual houses than multi-storey structures. There were not many applications for construction of commercial properties within the city limits, the old Madurai area.
According to Assistant Commissioner (Town Planning) Palaniswami, said most of the applications for construction of multi-storey apartments and gated community housing projects were from the city outskirts. Very few applied for construction of hospitals and hotels in the core city area.
CREDAI State secretary R. Illankovan said that considering the rise in cost of land within the city limits, promoters preferred suburban locations where buyers could be enticed with projects within their budget.
