CREDAI Tamil Nadu Welcomes Government’s
Decision to Empower CMDA for High-Rise Building Approvals
Chennai, 17 June 2026: CREDAI Tamil Nadu warmly welcomes the
Government of Tamil Nadu’s progressive decision to delegate powers to the
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to grant planning permission for
High-Rise Building projects within the Chennai Metropolitan Area.
This is a very important and timely reform for Chennai’s real estate
sector. We sincerely thank the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru
S. Joseph Vijay and the Housing and Urban Development Department for
understanding the practical challenges faced by developers and for taking a
decision that will simplify, speed up and improve the approval process.
Until now, high-rise building approvals had to pass through multiple
stages — application, field inspection, detailed scrutiny, High Rise Building
Committee review, recommendation to Government, and finally a Government Order
before planning permission could be granted. While every stage had its purpose,
the overall process often resulted in considerable time delay.
Speaking from my own experience in the real estate industry, every delay
in approval has a direct impact on the entire project ecosystem. A project is
not only a developer’s investment. It involves homebuyers waiting for their
homes, bankers, contractors, engineers, architects, suppliers, construction
workers and many families dependent on timely execution. Even a few months of
delay can increase project costs, affect cash flows, postpone launches and
ultimately impact the end customer.
By empowering CMDA to grant or refuse planning permission based on the
recommendation of the High Rise Building Committee, the Government has created
a more practical, accountable and time-bound approval framework. This decision
will bring greater confidence to developers, homebuyers, investors and all
stakeholders connected with Chennai’s urban growth.
CREDAI Tamil Nadu sees this as a highly positive reform that supports ease
of doing business while maintaining proper technical scrutiny and regulatory
compliance. Faster approvals will help accelerate housing supply, encourage
planned development and contribute to the overall economic growth of Tamil
Nadu.
At this important moment, CREDAI Tamil Nadu also makes a humble
submission to Government that this progressive approach may be extended in a
phased manner to other major cities of Tamil Nadu such as Coimbatore,
Madurai and Tiruchirappalli. Coimbatore and Madurai already have Urban
Development Authorities constituted, and urban planning areas have also been
notified for Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli. These regional cities
should be further strengthened with their own empowered planning and
development authorities, so that approvals can be processed and granted
locally, without the need for every major approval to come to Chennai. This
will save time, improve accountability, support regional investment and help
Tamil Nadu’s cities grow in a planned and sustainable manner.
We once again express our heartfelt appreciation to the Hon’ble Chief
Minister and the Government of Tamil Nadu for this forward-looking decision.
CREDAI Tamil Nadu remains committed to working closely with the Government,
CMDA, DTCP, Urban Development Authorities and all concerned departments to
promote transparent, sustainable and responsible development across the State.
W.S. Habib
President, CREDAI Tamil Nadu
