Punjab usher towards parity in building bylaws

Punjab has planned to bring parity in the building bylaws followed by the departments of local government and housing. It will benefit developers through the reduction of minimum area for a plotted colony under the affordable housing scheme and an increase in the saleable area in commercial colonies. Considering the ground reality of high land prices and unavailability of suitable land in some cities, it has been decided to reduce the minimum area from 5 acres to 1.5 acre for plotted development and bring it down from 2 acres to 0.5 acre for group housing.

Before this, for the commercial colonies under Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act (PAPRA), 40% saleable area was allowed but now it has been cleared out to give an extra benefit of 5%. Besides, promoters who have already paid the entire amount of EDC charges or regularization charges don't need to pay extra connectivity charges for water and sewerage connections. Also, outstanding dues of ED on real estate projects can be paid in six half-yearly instalments along with the applicable interest by way of post-dated cheques. Several representations have been received pointing out the differences in the norms being followed by the local government department and the department of housing. The approval of CLU and building plan is made under PAPA by the two departments. As per the decision, a park will be 5% of the area of the affordable housing project. The maximum saleable area will not be more than 65% of the total site area. For town planning schemes, a promoter who intends to develop the land into a colony will have to get a promoter license, besides a CLU and license from a competent authority. The local government department gives 5% additional FAR to the buildings which have a green rating Puda has allowed FAR of up to 10%. In the case of SCOs and SCFs, 100% coverage area is allowed on plots with depth up to 24 m and height up to 15 m whereas earlier 20% of the area was required to be left.