Corporation's cellphone app to check legal status of properties

Oct 29 2016 : The Times of India (Pune)

Pune: TIMES NEWS NETWORK





With popular apps like `Vahan' offering data on vehicle ownership, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has come up with a mobile application, using which citizens can find out details of property ownership.The app, named Pune Urban, will help potential buyers assure the legality of a property.
“The mobile application is equipped with various features. It will ease the works related to the building permission department.Users can get information on topics ranging from the official in their areas to development plans since 1966,“ said Prashant Waghmare, city engineer with the civic body .
He added that applications, available across all mobile platforms, can be used by common citizens as well as professionals working in the real estate sector.
PMC officials said that citizens will be able to use the app as a guide while constructing a house. It is based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping. Area wise details such as reservations, ready reckoner rates and documents required for building permission can sought in the application. Buyers can use the app to check the approval status of the construction site, number of approved floors or status of the transfer of development rights (TDR).
PMC officials say that on an average around 4,500 building permission are given per year. This includes small houses as well as big projects. Residential as well as commercial properties get approved at the department.
The city has around 8.3 lakh properties. Of this nearly 1 lakh are commercial and around 7 lakh are residential buildings. Pune al so has 29,000 open plots while around 14,000 are a mix of commercial, residential and open properties.
As per PMC's data, the civic body has acted against over 5,500 illegal constructions in the last four years.
Illegal sheds and houses built on an area of around 29 lakh sq ft in slum pockets located in Shivajinagar, Kasba Peth, Wadgaonsheri, Ambegaon, Kothrud, Katraj, NIBM Road and Pashan were demolished.
The property tax department plans to use the GIS to identify illegal properties across the city.