Builders to submit structural audit report from April 1 for OC, Real Estate News, ET Real Estate

NoidaStructural Audit Policy of : Noida Authority Will finally come into force from April 1, it will be made mandatory for developers to get occupancy certificates for new or delayed projects after getting their buildings structurally inspected by an institute empaneled by the Noida Authority and for home buyers to get their complaints resolved quickly. A framework will be put in place for redressal. Regarding structural defects in existing buildings.

Devendra Nigam, senior manager (planning), said, “From April 1, structural audit report obtained from one of the empaneled agencies will be mandatory along with online application for partial or full OC. If the tower and the society are safe from all angles, the developer will get the OC.

For existing buildings, officials said that if at least 25% of the occupants of a building support the audit, they can immediately approach the authority. A committee headed by an Additional CEO level officer will look into their complaint and decide whether the lapse is minor or major. For a major defect, the developer or the AOA, depending on the time elapsed since the issue of OC, will be responsible for deputing an agency for structural audit and rectifying the defect.

“After obtaining the OC, the builder will be responsible for structural audit for the next five years and shall rectify the deficiencies found in the structural audit during this period. After five years it will be the responsibility of the AOA.

Noida Authority has listed seven reputed institutes-IIT KanpurAligarh Muslim University, bits pilani, Delhi Technological University, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology at Allahabad, Malviya National Institute of Technology at Jaipur, and Central Building Research Institute at Roorkee – for structural audit. The developer or AOA will have to choose an auditor from among them, officials said, adding that the developer or AOA and the engaged institute will determine the audit fee.
Explaining the process, the corporation said, “If 25% or more buyers complain about any defect, the committee will investigate the complaint. If the committee decides the complaint pertains to minor defects, the authority will direct the developer or AOA shall issue a notice to the Commissioner, whoever is in-charge, to redress the complaint in three months. If the committee decides that the complaint pertains to major defects, a structural audit becomes necessary, which should take place in a month. Then The developer or the AOA will redress the grievance.

He added that if the developer fails to complete the audit within the stipulated period, the authority will get the audit done through a consultant and add the amount to its liability. In case of AoA, the Authority shall recover the amount from the Board of Management through recovery certificate.

“If the structural audit report shows that a building needs multiple repairs and retrofitting, the developer or AoA will have to start work at the site in one month and complete it in six months. The committee may extend this period on a case-to-face basis,” the corporation said. “If the AOA or the developer does not start the work, the authority shall act as per the provisions of the Industrial Area Development Act.”

Manoj Gaur, Chairman, CREDAI (NCR) and CMD, Gaur Group, welcomed the appointment of reputed technical institutes. structural audit of buildings, “All CREDAI registered developers are already getting structural audits from the institutions. But, this step will bring clarity and transparency in the process and increase the confidence of buyers.