Planning permission for high-rise buildings in the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) will henceforth be granted directly by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), eliminating the need for final government approval after scrutiny by the High-Rise Building Committee, according to a Government Order (G.O.) issued recently.

According to the G.O. dated June 13, 2026, issued by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, applications for high-rise buildings were previously scrutinised by the CMDA and placed before the High-Rise Building Committee. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the proposals were forwarded to the government, and planning permission was issued only after a separate G.O. was obtained. The revised procedure authorises the CMDA to issue planning permission for high-rise buildings on its own based on recommendations of the High-Rise Building Committee and subject to applicable development regulations and building rules.

The G.O. stated the change was introduced to simplify the approval process for high-rise developments in the CMA and reduce the time taken for obtaining sanctions. It said the existing procedure involved multiple stages of approval, resulting in delays in the issuance of planning permissions.

Under the new system, applications submitted by developers will continue to undergo field inspection and technical scrutiny by the CMDA and be placed before the High-Rise Building Committee for consideration. However, once the committee makes its recommendation, the CMDA will be empowered to grant planning permission directly without referring the proposal to the government for a separate approval order.

According to the G.O., the revised procedure is intended to facilitate quicker disposal of applications and reduce delays faced by developers in securing approvals. CMDA will continue to process applications in accordance with the provisions of the relevant development regulations and building rules.

The G.O. stated the delegation of powers would streamline the process while retaining the existing scrutiny and committee review mechanisms.