In Ahmedabad, low engagement with the Gujarat Regularization of Unauthorized Development Act (GRUDA) 2022 has prompted new regulations mandating unanimous consent from society members for regularization applications. Of the 36,349 applications received, only 2% have been approved, predominantly for residential constructions. The need for total consensus, owners bearing parking provision costs, and high impact fee regulation costs are primary deterrents, slowing the pace of regularization. The AMC is navigating these challenges as it reshapes the city's urban development.
Owners looking to legalize their irregular constructions are now required to obtain unanimous agreement from all society members as part of their application to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), according to new regulations. This development comes amid reported sluggish responses to the Gujarat Regularization of Unauthorized Development Act (GRUDA) 2022, with only a fraction of received applications approved.
Out of 36,349 applications received by the AMC as of June 1, just 700, or 2% have been authorized. Of these, a predominant 90% were given the green light for residential projects, and a mere 10% for commercial constructions. Fees from this effort have so far raised over Rs 7 crore.
Investigation of 15,506 applications have been conducted by the AMC officials, who cited three core challenges contributing to the lacklustre engagement. The need for complete agreement from all society members was recognized as a significant hurdle. As a high-ranking AMC official explained, "Achieving total consensus among all members to regularize the construction is a tough proposition."
Another deterrent stems from a stipulation in GRUDA 2022, which necessitates that half of the parking requirements be provided before any illegal construction is regularized. "Owners must shoulder the financial burden of arranging parking facilities. This can be a potent deterrent," commented the AMC official.
The final obstacle is the considerable financial load under the impact fee regulation. In addition to betterment charges, other fees levied on the owners can cumulatively amount to a substantial figure, further discouraging application for regularization.
The GRUDA Act also mandates that if a specific site can't feasibly accommodate parking, alternative arrangements must be made within a 500-meter radius, posing additional challenges in converting residential properties to commercial uses.
In conclusion, the struggle to secure unanimous agreement among society members, the financial onus of parking provisions, and the substantial overall costs under impact fee regulations are the primary factors impeding the effective application of the GRUDA 2022 Act. How the AMC and applicants will navigate these hurdles will certainly shape the future of urban development and regularization in Ahmedabad.
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