Re-tender to prepare Amrut master plans for Salem, Vellore, Thanjavur
DTCP had received Rs 2 crore from the union government to carry out the surveys and prepare master plans
CHENNAI: After failing to find suitable consultants to prepare GIS-based master plans, the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), has floated re-tender to invite more competent consultants to carry out the survey in 10 cities, that have been shortlisted for Amrut mission.
According to the DTCP sources, the re-tender had been issued for preparing GIS-based master plans for Dindigul, Karaikudi, Rajapalayam (package 1), Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ambur, Salem (package 2), Tanjore, Pudukottai and Kumbakonam (package 3).
The union government had selected 33 towns to be refurbished under the Amrut mission. Following the union government's announcement, the state has directed DTCP to carry out the project at 17 of 33 towns during the first phase.
"The DTCP recently invited private consultancies to draft GIS-based master plans for Nagapattinam (with Velankanni), Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Dindugal, Karaikudi, Rajapalayam, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ambur, Salem, Tanjore, Pudukottai, Kumbakonam, Tirunelveli, Nagarkoil, Rameswaram and Thoothukudi. We have rejected the proposals, as most of the consultants are less qualified," the sources said.
It is learnt that, of the total 17 cities, two consultants had been selected to carry out surveys at Nagapattinam (with Velankanni), Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli, Nagarkoil, Rameswaram and Thoothukudi.
Meanwhile, the DTCP had received '2 crore from the union government to carry out the surveys and prepare master plans.
"Central government has entailed providing '75 lakh for each city to draft master plans. Apart from releasing '2 crore, the central government has to release additional Rs. 18 crores to draft master plans for all the towns," said DTCP sources.
New norms for regularisation of unapproved plots released
In the new guidelines released by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), local bodies have been directed to regularise unapproved sold-out plots located in layouts that have basic infrastructure.
According to an official circular released by the DTCP, the layout framework will be prepared showing road pattern with other aspects like boundary dimensions and extent and private ownership of land. The framework could be forwarded to concerned local bodies to take up regularisation.
The new guidelines have come after individual plot owners had been forced to run from pillar to post to get their plots regularized. "Individual plots can be regularized if roads, street lights and other amenities are provided and maintained by local bodies," according to the circular. It is learnt that the DTCP has received nearly 69,000 applications for regularisation, while the CMDA has received 14,000.
As per the earlier guidelines, individual plots could only be regularized if promoters of the layouts regularised the entire layouts. "Layouts created before 1975 are coming under the regularization scheme. So the new guidelines will help plot owners who found difficulties in getting regularization," S. Rama Prabhu, honorary secretary, Builders' Association of India, said.
"The local body will pass resolutions to take over road space in its favour and grant individual plot regularization orders for which applications were already received," the circular ordered.
According to sources in the housing department, the decision on regularisation of individual plots was taken at a high-level meeting recently.
"Although the new guideline allows regularisation of individual plots that were sold-out, unsold plots will not be regularised. Unsold plots will only be regularised according to earlier guidelines after surrendering OSR," sources added.