CREDAI Tamil Nadu Welcomes Government’s Decision to Empower CMDA for High-Rise Building Approvals

Chennai, 17 June 2026: CREDAI Tamil Nadu warmly welcomes the Government of Tamil Nadu’s progressive decision to delegate powers to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to grant planning permission for High-Rise Building projects within the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

This is a very important and timely reform for Chennai’s real estate sector. We sincerely thank the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru S. Joseph Vijay and the Housing and Urban Development Department for understanding the practical challenges faced by developers and for taking a decision that will simplify, speed up and improve the approval process.

Until now, high-rise building approvals had to pass through multiple stages — application, field inspection, detailed scrutiny, High Rise Building Committee review, recommendation to Government, and finally a Government Order before planning permission could be granted. While every stage had its purpose, the overall process often resulted in considerable time delay.

Speaking from my own experience in the real estate industry, every delay in approval has a direct impact on the entire project ecosystem. A project is not only a developer’s investment. It involves homebuyers waiting for their homes, bankers, contractors, engineers, architects, suppliers, construction workers and many families dependent on timely execution. Even a few months of delay can increase project costs, affect cash flows, postpone launches and ultimately impact the end customer.

By empowering CMDA to grant or refuse planning permission based on the recommendation of the High Rise Building Committee, the Government has created a more practical, accountable and time-bound approval framework. This decision will bring greater confidence to developers, homebuyers, investors and all stakeholders connected with Chennai’s urban growth.

CREDAI Tamil Nadu sees this as a highly positive reform that supports ease of doing business while maintaining proper technical scrutiny and regulatory compliance. Faster approvals will help accelerate housing supply, encourage planned development and contribute to the overall economic growth of Tamil Nadu.

At this important moment, CREDAI Tamil Nadu also makes a humble submission to Government that this progressive approach may be extended in a phased manner to other major cities of Tamil Nadu such as Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli. Coimbatore and Madurai already have Urban Development Authorities constituted, and urban planning areas have also been notified for Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli. These regional cities should be further strengthened with their own empowered planning and development authorities, so that approvals can be processed and granted locally, without the need for every major approval to come to Chennai. This will save time, improve accountability, support regional investment and help Tamil Nadu’s cities grow in a planned and sustainable manner.

We once again express our heartfelt appreciation to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and the Government of Tamil Nadu for this forward-looking decision. CREDAI Tamil Nadu remains committed to working closely with the Government, CMDA, DTCP, Urban Development Authorities and all concerned departments to promote transparent, sustainable and responsible development across the State.