NAGPUR: The self-sanction building plan scheme for plots under 200 sqm has found no takers as the architects “aren’t ready to take responsibility and risk their reputation and licence” in case violations are committed by the applicants at any stage. 
The scheme was rolled out in August 2017 for all registered architects and licence surveyors under Centre’s ‘Ease of doing business’ to speed up the sanctioning process and thereby boost development. 

The scheme would have also made easier job of architects who are finding uploading plans in the new Building Plan Management System (BPMS) quite tedious. The system has been implemented at Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) and Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA). 

According to authorities, professionals are not ready to take responsibility. “Architects don’t want to take responsibility of sanctioning the building plan as in case any violations are found, their licences can be revoked,” said superintendent engineer of NIT Sunil Gujjelwar. 

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Architect Paramjeet Singh Ahuja, chairman of Indian Institute of Architects, Nagpur chapter, however, said, “We are not shirking from our responsibilities, but there are other aspects too. If clients do encroachments, authorities will sack architects for it. There can be miscommunication and misinterpretation of guidelines, which would later turn out problematic. Hence, architects are refraining from taking advantage of the scheme.”