In recent years, Chennai has emerged as one of the fastest-growing real estate hubs in India. With rapid infrastructure growth and a significant rise in employment opportunities across various sectors, the city has become a preferred choice of real estate customers. From residential to commercial and retail, you can find almost all kinds of properties here. With higher value appreciations, these properties also guarantee decent profit margins.
But how do you make sure that the property you’re planning to purchase is compliant with government policies and free from any kind of dispute? Well, this is when the concept of CMDA approval comes into the picture.
This article gives an overview of CMDA, its role in Chennai’s overall development, and a lot more.
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, commonly known as CMDA, is a government entity that takes care of the overall development of the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Originally, it was established in 1972 as an ad hoc body, but later in 1974, it was turned into a statutory body. Currently, CMDA is responsible for all kinds of development activities in the area and coordinating with other local authorities. This regulatory authority performs various surveys for different areas under its jurisdiction and prepares detailed reports. It helps in formulating future development plans for the area and implementing them effectively.
Another thing that CMDA is responsible for is validating and approving layouts for plots and all other kinds of residential projects in the city. Before initiating any construction, real estate developers need to submit their building construction plans to CMDA. After scrutinizing it and performing the required due diligence, CMDA grants an approved status. On completion of the project, another inspection will be performed to verify if the construction is as per the approved plan and meets all the necessary standards or not. If yes, a completion certificate is given.
CMDA’s functions are extensive and crucial for the effective management of the urban landscape of Chennai. Here are some of the key roles and responsibilities of CMDA:
Mainly, there are three different types of CMDA approval for properties:
CMDA approval is a crucial verification process for all kinds of real estate projects in Chennai. It ensures that a particular plot or piece of land complies with the state’s zoning rules. CMDA approval indicates that the intended usage of that plot aligns with the existing development plan for that area. Other than this, it also helps prevent any kind of legal issues in the future, as land title verification is performed by CMDA before approval.
Nowadays, you can obtain a CMDA approval online as well. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide for the same:
Depending on their intended usage, there are several different types of land. These can also be called different planning zones for CMDA. Here is a list of 6 important CMDA panning zones:
Sometimes, people confuse CMDA with DTCP and consider them the same. Although both these entities serve almost similar purposes, there are a few differences between them. DTCP (Directorate of Town and Country Planning) is a governing body that is responsible for preparing layout plans and regulating development in the entire state of Tamil Nadu. But DTCP’s jurisdiction doesn’t include the Chennai Metropolitan Area. This is where the concept of CMDA comes into the picture.
Similar to DTCP, CMDA also grants approvals to indicate that a particular piece of land complies with all government norms. However, the primary difference between DTCP and CMDA is the area that is being covered. DTCP controls development activities in the entire state. CMDA, on the other hand, is responsible for doing similar things in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) extends over 1189 square kilometers and comprises Chennai Corporation, 8 municipalities, 11 town panchayats, and 179 villages covered in 10 panchayat unions. Another important difference is that a DTCP approval doesn’t come with any expiry date, while a CMDA approval is only valid for 3 years.
There is no denying the fact that CMDA approval has significantly increased the transparency in Chennai’s real estate market. Nowadays, all buyers need to do is check the CMDA-approval status of the property before buying it. This eliminates the risk of any kind of legal dispute in the future. Other than this, it can positively impact a property's resale value as well.
Since CMDA approvals have a stringent process, such properties have a higher demand in the market. CMDA approval indicates that the property meets legal and developmental standards, so it also has a better resale value.
In conclusion, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) plays a major role in Chennai’s urban expansion. This state government entity mainly focuses on sustainable growth while ensuring efficient infrastructural growth. Especially for real estate buyers, CMDA makes things a lot easier by validating the authenticity and ownership status of a particular plot or residential project.
If you’re also looking for CMDA-approved plots available for sale in Chennai, look no further! OmShakthy Homes is one of the renowned plot developers in Chennai. Here, you can find an entire range of residential projects offering CMDA-approved plots with clear ownership titles. So, explore all the options and choose as per your specific requirements.
To check the CMDA approval status of a plot, you need to visit the official website of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. Then navigate to the ‘Planning Permission Approval Details’ section and enter the required details, such as plot no., area code, etc., and this will show you if a plot is CMDA-approved or not.
Usually, you need a maximum of 45 days to obtain CMDA approval for land after applying. This duration can slightly vary from one application to another, depending on things like project complexity or the current workload of the authorities.
Generally, you need to submit the encumbrance certificate, project layout plan, and NOC (No Objection Certificate) from local authorities, along with your CMDA-approval application. However, some properties may have additional documentation requirements as well, so it is best to confirm with the authorities in advance.
While purchasing land, ensuring its CMDA approval will help you minimize the risk of legal challenges. This way, you’ll not hit any roadblocks while initiating some construction there. In addition, CMDA-approval status makes it easier for you to obtain a bank loan to finance the purchase.
Yes. CMDA-approved plots are generally considered better than unapproved ones for several reasons. Since the layout has been approved by the regulatory authority, these plots are more secure. In addition to this, they are also relatively easier to buy/sell and offer a higher resale value.
To obtain CMDA approval for land, you need to submit an application to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority along with relevant documents and pay the applicable charges. After that, the authorities will schedule an on-site inspection, followed by a technical assessment. Once done, you will receive a formal CMDA clearance.
