One Portal, One Registration: TN Govt Plans Digital System For Building Professionals

The Tamil Nadu government will introduce a unified online registration system for architects, engineers, town planners and other professionals involved in preparing building plans and submitting applications for planning permission across the state. The Housing and Urban Development Department has directed the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) to implement the system through the Single Window Portal.

The initiative is aimed at simplifying the approval process and supporting the proposed third-party planning permission mechanism for smaller residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Once operational, only professionals registered through the portal will be allowed to prepare building plans and submit planning applications to local bodies and planning authorities. The move is expected to create a common registration framework across Tamil Nadu.

At present, architects, engineers and town planners are required to obtain separate registrations from different authorities depending on their jurisdiction. According to the government, this has resulted in duplication of records, procedural delays and difficulties for professionals working across multiple planning areas. Under the new system, eligible professionals will receive a unique statewide registration identification number recognised by all local bodies and planning authorities.

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Eligibility will be determined under the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. Professionals will have to submit their applications online through the Single Window Portal, after which the respective DTCP district offices will scrutinise and approve the registrations. Professionals who are already registered on the portal will be migrated automatically, while their existing registrations will remain valid until expiry and subsequent renewals will be completed online.

The unified registration system is also expected to support the third-party approval mechanism announced in the Assembly. Under the proposed arrangement, registered engineers will be authorised to approve specified categories of smaller buildings within government-prescribed limits. These include residential buildings with an FSI area of up to 8,070 sq ft, commercial buildings with an FSI area of up to 3,230 sq ft and factory buildings with a built-up area of up to 26,900 sq ft in approved industrial estates.

Officials expect the statewide platform to improve accountability, reduce repetitive procedures and speed up the processing of planning applications. The reform is intended to make the approval process more transparent and efficient while reducing the administrative burden on both applicants and building professionals.

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