GHMC : Green Channel For Speedy Grant of Building Permissions Hyderabad

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation 

Green Channel For Speedy Grant of Building Permissions 

Administration Reforms Commission-II, Government of India have recommended that a simplified procedure for grant of building permits on the basis of self- certification by owners / registered architects should be adopted by all State Governments and local bodies. In view of this and as an initiative to incentivize the development of the built environment, ease grant of building permissions, and introduce transparency and 

accountability. Accordingly, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is introducing more transparency and accountability in the granting of Building Permissions at Head Office through Green Channel by empanelling Architects, Structural Engineers, Peer Consultants and Document Auditors. Under this facility, owners, builders will get expeditious approval of building permissions through a Fast Track called the Green 

Channel. The details and operational guidelines are given below.

1. What is a Green Channel ?

Green Channel enables applicants to obtain Building Permissions from Head Office in 15 clear working days for non-high-rise buildings and group housing and within 30 days for high-rise buildings. The applicants have to pay the total fee/charges within 30 days of intimation by GHMC.

2. Who can apply ?

All applicants who seek permission for buildings of non-high rise and high rise buildings under Green Channel within 15 days for non high rise buildings and 30 days for high rise buildings. They shall apply in CSC in normal procedure.However, existing system will continue for certain period.

3. Where to apply ?

The applications for green channel in full shape will be accepted at CSC located at Head Office.

4. Whether to pay any additional Fee / Charges ?

No additional fees and charges to be paid by the applicants for obtaining permissions through Green Channel.

5. Procedure:

(i) Applicants desirous of using the green channel facility at head office must approach the GHMC empanelled Architects for required scrutiny of their development proposal to ensure conformity to Master Plan Zoning Regulations / Building Rules and Regulations and orders and circulars issued by the 

Government from time to time before submission to GHMC. 

(ii) Applicants must additionally approach GHMC empanelled document auditors for certification of title over the land intended for development. 

(iii) The applicants of multi storied buildings must approach GHMC empanelled appropriate group of Structural Engineers for structural designs and drawings.

(iv) The proposals should be submitted through the prescribed BUILDING APPLICATION SELF-SCRUITINY STATEMENT (BASS - available in GHMC website) duly signed by Owner, Builder, Empanelled Architect, Engineer, Empanelled Document Auditor in case of non-high-rise buildings and in case of high-rise buildings proposals shall also be signed by Empanelled Structural Engineers and Peer Consultants / Institution.

(v) Along with the building application the applicant / owner shall submit notarized affidavit that “all the rules and regulations have been adhered to and they are personally held responsible for any lapses in this matter.” (proforma enclosed).

(vi) On completion of the necessary scrutiny and certification of building plans by the empanelled architects and document auditors the applicant / architect shall submit their proposals at Citizen Service Centre in the head office in full form duly enclosing all relevant plans and necessary NOCs with payment of initial fee in the form of DD for an amount of Rs.10,000/- and the remaining balance amount in the form of DD in the name of Commissioner, GHMC shall be paid on intimation within one month failing which the proposals will be returned un-approved. 

(vii) In case of high rise buildings the plans and structural designs will be referred to an empanelled peer consultant by GHMC and the peer consultant shall submit his report to GHMC within (7) days. The charges of peer consultant shall be paid by the applicant through GHMC within (7) days from the date of intimation in the form of DD drawn in favour of peer consultant.

(viii) The plans will be scrutinized by the concerned Town Planning officials at the Head Office and after approval of Commissioner intimation letter for payment of balance fee and other documents and the entire process will be completed within 15 days for non-high-rise buildings and within 30 days for high-rise buildings.

(ix) The Architects / Structural Engineers shall give reports in prescribed format at 

every slab level or in every 3 months period which ever is earlier on the progress 

of construction and conformity with sanctioned plans.

(x) The procedure prescribed to ensure the structural stability of the building under 

GO 541 M.A dt.17.11.2002 and G.O Ms No. 168 MA dt. 7.4.2012 shall be strictly 

adhered to.

(xi) This empanelment is done with an intention to minimize the time delay in the 

process of approvals and maximize the efficiency of the approval process and in 

this exercise, the GHMC shall monitor and evaluate the competency levels of 

various consultants empanelled from time to time for better citizen service. 

(xii) The GHMC may decide continuation of the empanelment or De-empanelment of 

various consultants, squarely depending on the performance, of consultants 

empanelled.

(xiii) All the Architects / Engineers / Structural Engineers / Peer Consultants / 

Document Auditors will be given a refreshment course for 2 or 3 days explaining 

them about the various provisions of the procedures, bye-laws and their 

interpretations so that with the fresh knowledge given to them by the GHMC, the 

empanelled personnel can function more efficiently

6. Penal action

(a) Against the Empanelled Architects / Engineers / Structural Engineers / 

Document Auditors / Peer Consultants

(i) Any misrepresentation, falsifying facts are found or in any other way misleading 

GHMC then the permission granted will be cancelled forthwith and the applicant / 

owner / Architects / Engineers / Document Auditors / Peer Consultants are liable 

for cancellation of License/ blacklisting and other relevant penal action.

(ii) Failure to submit stage wise field inspection report or submitting incorrect factual 

report will lead to black listing their names, cancellation of license and other penal 

action. 

7. Qualifications and Competency:

Empanelled Architects:

Qualifications:

a) MSBR: The empanelled architects should have a minimum qualification 

of B.Arch, from any recognized Indian University, should be registered 

with Council of Architecture, New Delhi and designed and signed two or 

more MSBR buildings which were approved by GHMC or HMDA.or any 

other ULBs of 1 million + population in A.P.

b) NON-MSBR: The empanelled architects should have a minimum 

qualification of B.Arch, from any recognized Indian University, should 

have atleast 1 year of working experience and should be registered with 

Council of Architecture, New Delhi and designed and signed 2 or more 

buildings of 15m height which were approved by GHMC or HMDA or 

any other ULBs of 1 million + population in A.P.

Competency:

a) All plans and related information related with building permit.

b) Structural designs and calculations for buildings on plot up to 500 sq. 

mts. and upto three floors.

c) Certificate of supervision and completion of all buildings.

Empanelled Structural Engineers:

Category I:

Qualifications: Post graduate in Structural Engineering from a recognized 

university having minimum experience of 7 years in design of structures 

(high-rise buildings and unusual structures of medium complexity. Must 

have designed and signed atleast two multistoried buildings in GHMC or 

HMDA area.

Competency: Designing of tall structures and unusual structures of higher 

complexity and more than 45 mtrs. in height.

Category II:

Qualifications: Post graduate in Structural Engineering from a recognized 

university having minimum experience of 5 years in design of structures. 

Must have designed and signed atleast two buildings in GHMC or HMDA 

area.

Competency: All buildings up to 45 mtrs. in height.

Category III:

Qualifications: Graduate in Civil Engineering from a recognized university 

having minimum experience of 5 years in design of buildings. Must have 

designed and signed atleast two buildings in GHMC or HMDA area.

Competency: All non-multi storied buildings. These buildings can also be 

designed by structural engineers empanelled under category I & II.

EMPANELLED PEER CONSULTANTS:

Qualifications: Post graduate in Structural Engineering from a recognized 

university having minimum experience of 12 years in design of structures 

(high-rise buildings and unusual structures of higher complexity) or any 

reputed Educational Institution.

Competency: Empowered to carry out peer review of structural designs of 

multistoried buildings carried out by structural engineers. The structural 

designs submitted by the structural engineers will be referred to a Peer 

Consultant from the panel on rotation basis and the charges of Peer 

Consultant will have to be paid by the applicant through GHMC by way of 

Cheque drawn in favour of Peer Consultant.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

ARCHITECTS:

To report to the GHMC regarding the compliance of sanctioned plan at 

different stages of construction i.e foundation stage and at each slab 

level or every (3) months which ever is earlier. He shall ensure to carry 

out the work as per sanctioned plan till the building is completed.

STRUTURAL ENGINEERS:

Responsible to follow the structural designs as per the approved plans 

and safety measures during construction period and shall report to 

GHMC regarding the compliance of structural designs and safety 

aspects at each slab level or every (3) months which ever is earlier right 

from grounding of work till the building is completed.

EMPANELLED DOCUMENT AUDITORS:

Qualifications:

a) Advocates:

1. Must have empanelled with any 2 or more nationalized banks 

or Housing finance institutions like HUDCO, HDFC,LIC etc 

located at Hyderabad.

2. Must be with a minimum bar council experience of five years.

b) Retired Revenue Officials: 

Must have been served within the jurisdiction of GHMC and 

retired in revenue department in the cadre not below the rank of 

Tahsildar with field experience in surveying and land matters.

Competency:

a. The empanelled advocates or retired revenue officials shall look into the 

flow of title, the way the empanelled advocates of various banks do, in 

the process of loans. The practicing advocates or the retired revenue 

officials shall decide the title of various properties by going through the 

documents produced by the respective applicants.