In February 2021, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) discontinued its Development Permission Management System (DPMS) and replaced it with the Telangana State Building Permission Approval and Self-Certification System or TS-bPASS in a move to provide instant approval for residential activities in the state.

The idea to launch the TS-bPASS was inspired by the Telangana State Industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System (TS-iPass), which was introduced in July 2015 as a virtual platform for granting online industrial building permissions based on a self-certification model.

Plans are now afoot to fully enforce TS-bPASS in the areas that are under the jurisdiction of the GHMC. The idea is to eventually implement the TS-bPASS approval system for all residential and non-residential buildings, irrespective of their size. 

What is TS-bPASS?

A single-window approval system for building permissions, the TS-bPASS issues permissions in three categories: instant registration, instant approval, and a single window.

The TS-bPASS was first implemented in areas under the GHMC to provide permissions on a self-certification model for residential structures built on plot sizes of up to 600 square yards. Subsequently, residential developments of larger sizes were brought under the purview of the TS-bPASS. When the system is fully implemented, all residential structures will be brought into the purview of TS-bPASS, irrespective of their size.

“TS-bPASS is a pioneering and revolutionary reform in obtaining building permissions, and making approvals more user-friendly by providing a streamlined online system for hassle-free, time-bound speedy approvals,” the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI), Hyderabad said in a statement issued at the launch of this system.

“This will help to reduce human interference and bring transparency in issuing building permissions. A single form is sufficient to obtain no-objection certificates or NOCs across all departments,” the CREDAI said in its statement.

TS-bPASS approval categories

The Telangana state government passed the TS-bPASS Act 2020 in September last year to simplify building plan approvals for three categories. Under the system, instant registrations are granted for individual residential buildings of plot size of up to 75 square yards and building height of up to 7 metres. Instant approvals are granted to individual residential buildings of plot size between 75 – 600 square yards. In this case, the height of the building is capped at 10 metres.

Under the single-window building permission of the TS-bPASS, permissions are granted to all residential buildings of above 500 square metres, and building height of up to 10 metres.

The instant registration and instant approval facilities on the TS-bPASS are available on submission of an application for building plan approval and self-certification. In fact, it is for the first time that the state government has introduced a self-certification system that does not require the resident to submit building plans to get permission. One can just stick to the setback limits, and get approval.

After verification, authorities ideally approve the building plan in two weeks. However, media reports indicate that it can take as long as three months to get approval from the TS-bPASS.

Note that residents have to register themselves with the urban-local body in Telangana, using the TS-bPASS, to get a virtual building plan approval.

TS-bPASS certificate

Acting as a single-point contact, TS-bPASS gets clearances from various departments such as fire services, electricity boards, traffic, and planning departments to grant a building plan approval. Departments that delay approvals are also charged penalties to keep late delivery of services under check. Once the application is approved, TS-bPASS issues an automated certificate with the signatures of concerned authorities. This certificate can be used to carry out construction activities or borrow funds meant for property construction.

Note that building permissions granted under the TS-bPASS system can be revoked by the commissioner within 21 days from the date of approval if it is proven that the permission violates any rules or is a result of misinterpretation of facts.