According to the master plan, the corporation secretary can grant approval for apartments in the core area zone with a maximum of 150 units, eliminating the need to involve the district town planner. This proposal aims to streamline the building approval process in Thiruvananthapuram, allowing quicker decision-making for smaller residential projects. By empowering the corporation secretary with this authority, it reduces bureaucratic hurdles and expedites the approval process, benefiting both builders and residents. This move reflects an effort to enhance efficiency and decentralize decision-making in urban development.
Thiruvananthapuram's draft master plan for 2040 brings significant relaxations in the provisions governing building approvals from the town and country planning department. The proposed land use zones, including the core area zone, will witness major changes that aim to streamline the approval process for various occupancies.
Under the new master plan, the corporation secretary will now have the authority to approve apartments with up to 150 units in the core area zone, eliminating the need to consult the district town planner. Previously, the Kerala municipality building rules required the district town planner's approval for buildings under Group Al occupancy if the number of dwelling units exceeded 100.
These revisions grant the corporation secretary the power to approve a wide range of structures within the core area zone, such as residential buildings, dwellings, apartments up to 150 units, small professional offices, ancillary spaces for residential occupancy, small household businesses, educational buildings (including crèche and nurseries), reading rooms, and libraries.
Regarding Group A2 occupancy, the master plan stipulates that the corporation secretary can grant approval for structures with a total built-up area of up to 10,000 sq m in the core area zone. This encompasses lodges, tourist homes, resorts, hotels, motels, and special residential units like convents, orphanages, old age homes, hostels, guest houses, dharmasalas, night shelters, hospices, and palliative care centers. The district town planner's approval is required only if the total built-up area exceeds 10,000 sq m for buildings in Group A2 occupancy.
However, new constructions for educational buildings (Group B) and medical buildings (Group C) may not be permitted in the core area zone according to the master plan. Only additions, alterations, reconstruction, essential repairs, and maintenance of existing authorized structures will be allowed in such buildings. The corporation secretary can approve works falling under these categories if the built-up area remains within 3,000 sq m.
Additionally, the draft master plan empowers the corporation secretary to approve buildings for commercial use within the core area zone. This includes professional establishments of doctors, lawyers, and others, medical labs, restaurants, and parking-related structures like parking plazas and markets, as long as the total built-up area does not exceed 10,000 sq m.
The proposed land use map designates Thiruvananthapuram's central business district (CBD) area as the core area zone. The master plan aims to transform this region into an intensive mixed commercial zone, catering to the demands of the city's residents. The plan also outlines provisions for residential and other development prospects within this zone.
The relaxations in building approvals and the enhanced role of the corporation secretary are expected to facilitate smoother processes for construction and development in Thiruvananthapuram, aligning with the city's future vision as outlined in the draft master plan 2040.
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