Punjab govt clears new building rules

The Punjab government has given its nod to new building rules, which were approved by the Cabinet and will be applicable across the state, outside municipal limits.

According to the state's Housing and Urban Development Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, the rules would be notified shortly and made available for general public.

It will give a boost to urban development and building construction activities, which will be helpful for the economic development of the state, Bajwa said.

Under the new rules, a developer can now purchase unlimited FAR (floor area ratio) for group housing, commercial, public office, hotel and industrial buildings, he added.

Increase in permissible FAR for residential development, educational buildings, rental housing, dhaba, miniplex and multiplex, wholesale trade freight complex and commercial use in group housing projects has been increased from 0.20 to 1 per cent, he said.

Five per cent additional ground coverage has been permitted in case of retail service industry, he added.

Ground coverage for commercial building has been increased from 40 per cent to 45 per cent, he added.

The minister said there would be no scrutiny fees for building plan approval of schools or care centres for the disabled or mentally challenged, orphanage and old age homes.

Additional 5 per cent FAR free of charge and 100 per cent exemption of building scrutiny fee has been allowed on submission of green building certificate, he said.