Odisha Govt Cracks Down on Delays in Building Plan Approvals, ULBs Asked to Clear Pending Cases

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has stepped up efforts to streamline the building plan approval process, with Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, directing all Development Authorities, Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to clear pending applications under the Online Building Plan Approval System (OBPAS) within stipulated timelines.

Reviewing the status of applications at a meeting held at Kharavel Bhawan on Friday, Padhee expressed concern over procedural bottlenecks and delays in planning-related clearances. She warned that deliberate negligence and unjustified delays would invite strict action, with accountability fixed at every level.

She asked the authorities to conduct a detailed assessment of pending applications, identify delays authority-wise and ULB-wise, and take immediate measures to dispose of the cases. To ensure closer monitoring, she directed officials to strengthen digital file tracking and put in place an escalation mechanism under which applications pending for more than seven days would be referred to higher authorities, wherever necessary.

The Additional Chief Secretary also called for strengthening the SUJOG platform to improve transparency, monitoring and accountability in the approval process. She asked officials to avoid repetitive queries and unnecessary procedural hurdles, ensuring that applicants receive clear information about documentation, approval requirements and timelines.

Emphasising the need for a citizen-friendly system, Padhee directed the department to simplify guidance documents and make them easily accessible through digital platforms, explanatory videos and other communication channels. She also suggested utilising the technical expertise available in government engineering colleges and polytechnics to provide planning-related support and improve the quality of scrutiny.

Stressing that digital governance should translate into tangible benefits for citizens, she urged the SUJOG team and other concerned officials to address systemic shortcomings and ensure a transparent, efficient and hassle-free building plan approval mechanism.

Director, Town Planning, Satrughna Kar, Additional Secretary Suvendu Kumar Sahu, Assistant Town Planners and members of the SUJOG team, among others, attended the meeting.