Businessmen related to real estate face massive suffering to get approval for building construction. In order to get approval for one building, they have to go to at least 11 places, facing countless irregularities plus corruption.
With such rigmarole, the price of flats goes beyond the affordability of general buyers. However, there is a positive change in view as the government has taken a few steps to reduce suffering and complications. Therefore, efforts are underway to implement One Stop Service and Detail Area Plan, DAB.
Housing and public works minister, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, says, “Once one-stop service is arranged, the red tape will fall.”
MD of TM Assets, engineer Tanvir Uddin Rajib told Bangla Tribune, “to construct a multistoried building, one has to go to 10 to 12 offices which is time consuming, costly and irritating.”
Often, it takes two to three years to have a file approved, he said, sounding exasperated.
Real estate businessmen feel that permissions are required only from ward commissioner and civil aviation authority.
Sometimes, real estate companies are blamed for lack of proper drainage, he said, adding, “This is due to the absence of enough sewerage lines.”
Real estate traders also say that due to the increase in the price of construction materials, flats cost more.
They also underlined the lengthy process to have approval for water, gas and electric lines.
The minister declared a one-stop service to be formed after the submission of a report by a sub-committee. However, that report has not seen the light of day.
President of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, REHAB, Alamgir Shamsul Alamin Kajal, told Bangla Tribune, “In this sector, work cannot begin if there’s the slightest complication.”
To get approval for buildings which are more than ten stories, we need to go to many organisations, he added.
RAJUK chairman, Abdur Rahman, told Bangla Tribune, “We also want a swift implementation of work and an expedient approval system.
Meanwhile, city-corporation has now added another step, under which a no objection certificate has to be obtained for buildings which are more than ten stories.