The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has made significant strides in streamlining its building plan approval process, reducing delays and enhancing efficiency. Since the introduction of the online building approval system in 2016, the GVMC has been required to grant permissions within 15 days, including notifying applicants of any deficiencies.
Previously, applicants faced delays, with most shortfall notifications and approvals issued late in the second week, leaving insufficient time for corrections. However, recent reforms have led to a dramatic improvement. Currently, 71% of building plans are approved within the first week, and 32% of shortfall notifications are issued within seven days, compared to just 12% earlier. The changes have been implemented through systematic monitoring and analysis of bottlenecks in the approval process. In addition to the GVMC’s internal reforms, the Andhra Pradesh government is introducing broader changes to simplify building and layout approvals. By December 31, a new system will be in place, allowing construction plans for buildings up to 15 metres in height to bypass municipal approval. The government is also implementing a single-window approval system to expedite the process and connect various departments for faster resolutions. These steps are expected to significantly reduce delays in obtaining building permits and improve the overall efficiency of the construction sector in the state.
