The system is expected to simplify and make the process of acquiring construction permits hassle-free

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office (KMCO) is all set to launch its e-building permit system on January 16. With the introduction of the system, it is expected that the process of acquiring construction permits will be simplified and more transparent. In the first phase of the pilot project, KMCO and Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City will be using an online system.

Dr Uttar Regmi, chief of Electronic Building Permit System (EBPS), says, “We are all set to introduce the online service on the stipulated date by the prime minister. KMCO will provide this service to seven wards in the trial phase.“ For this process, KMCO will provide passwords and usernames to access web-based applications to authorised engineers and designers of private firms.

Stating that the system assures the reception of all documents required for acquiring construction permits, Dr Regmi says, “In the traditional system, house owners had to repeatedly visit the office upon missing to fill in all the necessary data.
Now with the introduction of e-service, the system will ask for a complete set of documents required for the registration, if not it will not entertain such applications.“ He further adds, “This will be effective to ensure that the minimum building code compliance will be maintained with the new buildings to be constructed within the metropolises.” The automated system has been developed with a view to maintain urban data, transparency in construction permits and monitoring to facilitate applicants. “Once this online service is launched, we can actually get urban data of constructions and with this we can monitor and plan the city well,” he says. According to KMCO, they will promptly respond to applicants via email once all the necessary documents are submitted.

The system will record construction maps in digital format and store them
at the Government's Integrated Data Centre in Singha Durbar, which will help keeping documents safe.

The metropolis will provide usernames and passwords to applicants to track their applications and status using the internet. The metropolis has provided first phase software training to 40 en-gineers and designers to assure smooth system usage and further planning to provide second phase training.

KMCO may also share these documents with the central bank, other banks and financial institutions and research centres if asked for property verification in future.

source: the himalayan times,9 jan 2014