January 16, 2024: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has issued ‘Standardized Development and Building Regulations, 2023,’ encapsulated in Special Publication SP 73: 2023. The special publication marks a significant stride towards revolutionising India’s built environment, the ministry of consumer affairs said in a statement.
“Aligned with the National Building Code of India, 2016, (NBC 2016) and drawing inspiration from global best practices, these regulations set forth a comprehensive framework aimed at ensuring safety, accessibility and sustainability in construction. The document emerges as a beacon of uniformity, designed to streamline structuring and detailing of the development and building regulations of the States/UTs, as well as to streamline the building regulatory system across the nation while accommodating the specific needs of individual states, union territories (UTs), and local bodies,” it said.
The genesis of these standardized regulations lies in a meticulous project aimed at promoting the adoption of the NBC 2016 nationwide. The initiative involved an exhaustive study of existing rules and regulations across the country, coupled with a comparative analysis of international best practices governing land and building development. Workshops and discussions held nationwide gathered input and feedback, all of which were successfully integrated into the final document.
Elaborating on the simplicity of the rules, the ministry said that the document is highly user-friendly.
“Crafted in plain language for clarity, the regulations eliminate ambiguity, ensuring a seamless adoption process. The comprehensive content, complemented by various forms and checklists, facilitates easy understanding. Visual aids, including illustrations and flowcharts, enhance comprehension while explanatory notes underscore key aspects. Standardised numbering further eases translation into different languages,” it said.
Moreover, the forward-looking nature of this document is evident in its incorporation of new-age ideas and concepts. Addressing elements such as EV charging stations, wind electricity generators, transferable development rights, transit-oriented development, high-security areas, retirement homes, the regulations embrace innovation, the ministry added in its statement.
Key stakeholders that will benefit from the new rules
The key beneficiaries of this document are the following:
- The ministry of housing
- The Town and Country Planning Organization (TCPO) under the housing ministry
- State, Union Territory governments
- Local bodies
- Development authorities
- Cantonment boards and port trusts
- Zila and gram panchayats
- Organisations involved in the development of built environment
Accessible to all
To ensure that the document is easy to understand, adopt/adapt, implement and comply with, a number of measures have been undertaken while drafting it.
For instance, the structuring of the chapters and the document as a whole has been done in the order of the development process for the most part. This makes the document a cogent continuous volume.
Explanatory notes have been outlined at the beginning of each chapter to brief the users about the contents therein, in the form of major highlights.
To enable easy navigation through the document and easy identification of the regulations, the items, clauses, sub-clauses, tables, figures, annexes, etc have been duly numbered in a standardized manner.
The regulations have been supported with figures and flowcharts wherever necessary, to enhance their interpretation visually.
The regulations are so written as to ensure that there is no room for multiple interpretations, and effort has been made to frame the regulations in a manner that it is unambiguous.
Wherever there is a possibility of an ambiguity arising in the interpretation of a clause or an exception occurring to the rule, notes have been inserted to clarify the same.
Key provisions of the NBC 2016 related to safety, sustainability and accessibility have been specifically incorporated for ensuring ease of implementation.
Latest developments and advancements in the field of land development and building construction have also been addressed considering available guidelines and regulations.
The document envisions a future where regulatory bodies operate more transparently and efficiently, facilitating easy access to services provided by registered building professionals. The document proposes ways in which regulatory bodies can harness common rules and regulations to collect verifiable data, leveraging Information Technology for efficient service delivery. As a progressive blueprint for the construction industry, these regulations anticipate a positive impact on the ease of doing business, laying the groundwork for a resilient and sustainable built environment in India.
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An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Sunita Mishra brings over 16 years of expertise to the fields of legal matters, financial insights, and property market trends. Recognised for her ability to elucidate complex topics, her articles serve as a go-to resource for home buyers navigating intricate subjects. Through her extensive career, she has been associated with esteemed organisations like the Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Network18, All India Radio, and Business Standard.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sunita holds an MA degree in Sanskrit, with a specialisation in Indian Philosophy, from Delhi University. Outside of her work schedule, she likes to unwind by practising Yoga, and pursues her passion for travel.
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