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Union Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu has expressed concern over what he called the paradox of India being the fastest growing economies of the world, but perceived to be difficult to do business and invest.

The minister was speaking at a Workshop on ‘Ease of Doing Business for Construction Permits in Delhi’, organised by the Ministry of Urban Development in the capital on Friday.

Stating that improvement in ‘ease of doing business’ in urban areas of the country would lift millions out of poverty, Naidu urged other cities and towns to follow the integrated and simplified online application and sanction systems being introduced by the urban local bodies in the national capital.

Referring to other paradoxical situations prevailing in the country, Naidu said increase in congestion even after building more and more roads and flyovers is one such paradox which is a result of deficient urban planning and processes. “Despite being a vibrant democracy, legislatures not passing Bills in time on certain occasions is another issue and such situations should be resolved to enable the country emerge as an economic power that it deserves to be,” said the minister.

Making a presentation on the new online procedures at the workshop to over 200 architects, engineers and others, New Delhi Municipal Council Chairman Naresh Kumar said that the Council would not accept manual applications for building permits after 15th of next month.

During a similar presentation on behalf of all the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi, Dr Punit Goel, Commissioner of South MCD, said that thee corporations have completed most of the integration with all other external agencies through a Common Application Form and would be in a position to eliminate manual applications by the end of next month.

Dr Goel further said that the Corporations are ready with an online Automatic Calculator for estimation of different charges to be paid, by which the owners and architects could find the costs to be paid. Fee to be paid can be worked out by furnishing information about colony category, plot area, floor-wise covered area, building type etc.

Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek while expressing concern over India’s ranking in respect of ‘ease of doing business in construction sector’ urged the urban local bodies in Delhi and Mumbai to take necessary actions to ensure that the people and other stakeholders in Delhi and Mumbai make full use of simplified online application and sanction platforms.

Urban local bodies of Delhi were asked to consider if separate payment of processing and sanction fee could be merged to make it one single payment, as it would positively impact ease of doing business ranking.

The DIPP officer also urged Delhi urban local bodies to ensure that manual submission of applications is brought to an end by the end of next month.

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