CUTTACK – : A recent notification issued by the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department regarding the Odisha Development Authorities (Planning and Building Standards) Amendment Rules, 2022 has triggered widespread dissatisfaction among residents of Cuttack city.
ODA Notification Triggers Controversy in Cuttack:
According to the notification, in order to regularize sub-plots that have been unauthorizedly subdivided and to obtain approval for house building plans, the minimum width of the access road to the sub-plot must be nine meters. If the width of the access road falls below nine meters but exceeds six meters, the landowner must provide a strip of land, equal to half the width of the shortfall, to widen the road to a minimum of nine meters along the side facing the street. This requirement aims to maintain a minimum street width of nine meters.
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The notification further states that the landowner must transfer the strip of land to the urban local body or local authority through a registered deed under the provisions of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882) prior to the regularization of the sub-plot.
residents have raised concerns
Local residents have raised concerns about the necessity of a nine-meter wide road for regularizing sub-plots and obtaining building plan approvals in Cuttack. They question why building plans with plots having roads as narrow as 1.5 meters are being approved in Kolkata. Previously, according to the ODA Act, a six-meter wide road was sufficient for building plan approvals. In light of public discontent, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s Planning and Development Standing Committee has written a letter to the H&UD department, urging them to reconsider the amended ODA rules specifically for Cuttack City. The committee requests the relaxation of road width requirements and proposes that the civic body be allowed to approve building plans with 1.5-meter wide roads.
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The discontent among Cuttack residents stems from the perceived disparity between road width regulations in Cuttack and other cities. They argue that the stricter rules in Cuttack pose challenges for sub-plot regularization and hinder the smooth process of obtaining building plan approvals. The plea made by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s Planning and Development Standing Committee reflects the urgency to address these concerns and strike a balance between regulatory requirements and the practical needs of the city’s residents.
As the issue gains attention, stakeholders eagerly await a response from the Housing and Urban Development department regarding the proposed relaxation of the road width regulations. The outcome of these deliberations will determine the path forward for Cuttack’s residents and the city’s urban development landscape.
