The State Urban Development Department (UDD) has put in place fresh deadlines under the Right to Services Act to give faster approvals to construction projects.The UDD was one of the last remaining departments to set deadlines and designate officers responsible for meeting them under the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015. Similar directives were issued under the Central government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative, but State government officers were not held guilty for missing deadlines.
As per the new deadlines, certificates for building commencement will have to be issued in less than 30 days, for plinth in seven days, occupation in eight days and tree-felling permissions within 45 days. The last are issued under section 8(4) of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act.