Chennai Corporation has transferred all personnel working in its Town Planning wing at Ripon Building following complaints of bribery and procedural irregularities in the issuance of building permits. The civic body has also decided to replace officials handling approvals at zonal offices.
The Corporation issues permissions for houses, commercial complexes and industrial units up to three floors. Applications up to 5,000 sq ft are processed at the respective zones, while proposals between 5,000 and 10,000 sq ft must be submitted to the Town Planning wing at the headquarters with required documents and fees.
Officials from assistant engineers to supervisory engineers are expected to scrutinise documents and grant approvals within 27 days as per rules. However, several applications were allegedly kept pending for long periods without clear reasons, with complainants citing violations and demands for bribes.
The matter reached the attention of Municipal Administration Department Additional Chief Secretary K. K. Deep Singh Bedi. Acting on his directions, 12 staff members—including engineering officers and support staff—were moved to other sections, and replacements from other wings have been posted to Town Planning.
A Corporation official said this is the first time an entire section has been transferred at once, and that further transfers of some engineers in zonal offices are expected. The Corporation is also preparing a list of employees in engineering, sanitation, medical and solid-waste divisions who have served in the same post for over three years, with more transfers likely. Bedi has instructed that approvals be issued within the stipulated timeframe and that post-approval inspections be carried out, with action such as sealing or work stoppage in case of violations.
