Auto DCR glitches delay fire NOC approvals in Telangana

Builders in Telangana are facing delays in getting fire NOCs due to glitches in the Auto DCR system introduced by the Fire Department. CREDAI members urged officials to fix issues and conduct awareness drives to help streamline the application process

Hyderabad: Technical snags in the Auto Development Control Regulation (DCR), a special online auto scrutiny system introduced by the Fire Department for assessing building permission applications and issuing fire ‘No Objection Certificates’, are delaying application processing.

In April this year, the department introduced the Auto DCR system. The idea was to thoroughly assess the building permission applications and expedite the processing mechanism.

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However, due to snags in the system, the issue of NOC for building permission is getting delayed. As a result, in the last two months, the number of applications filed has reduced by nearly 90 percent, builders complained.

Initially, the department had informed applicants that the Auto DCR system was launched as a pilot project. But within a few weeks, other options in the system were eliminated, making it cumbersome for architects and consultants to upload the applications and get them processed.

Further, when bulk applications were being filed, the system was flashing “Not Ok” messages. Worried over the delay, applicants, especially builders, raised the issues with officials and were assured that all their concerns would be fixed. However, the problems persist.

Apart from technical snags, in deviation from earlier practice, the Fire Department’s new system is scrutinising all aspects, including built-up area, ventilation sizes, parking areas, setbacks and others.

Generally, these aspects come under the Municipal Administration purview, and a few factors like TDR and road widening exemptions are considered for approving applications. These parameters, particularly the built-up area figures, are differing in the BuildNow system and the Fire Department’s system, a CREDAI Member explained.

This apart, builders are being forced to file separate applications for each block in a gated community to obtain NOC. Earlier, the entire gated community was considered as one unit and a single application was filed. But now, block-wise applications are being filed, turning the process cumbersome for applicants.

“The Fire Department’s intention in introducing the new system for issuing fire NOC might be good, but the execution is creating issues. This is mainly due to lack of awareness about the new system among applicants,” the CREDAI Member said.

Builders want officials to conduct awareness programmes and guide applicants in uploading applications in the new system and getting them processed.