Srinagar, July 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has introduced a uniform building permission fee structure for all Urban Local Bodies and Development Authorities across the Union Territory. The new system has come into effect immediately and aims to ensure greater transparency, consistency and predictability in the building permission process.

The Housing and Urban Development Department issued the order under the Jammu and Kashmir Unified Building Bye Laws, 2021. It replaces all earlier notifications and instructions issued by Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Municipal Committees and Development Authorities that prescribed varying building permission charges.

Under the revised fee structure, residential buildings, including housing colonies, will be charged ₹80 per square metre. Commercial, public, semi public, industrial and other special category buildings will attract a fee of ₹270 per square metre, while mixed use buildings will be charged ₹130 per square metre.

The government has also fixed a lump sum malba security deposit of ₹3,000 for residential buildings and ₹10,000 for all other categories. A compounding fee equal to 40 percent of the applicable building permission fee will be levied wherever required. Religious buildings have been exempted from paying the building permission fee.

The order further directs that the revised fee structure be integrated into the Online Building Permission System and Auto DCR platform for uniform implementation across Jammu and Kashmir. It also prohibits any Urban Local Body or Development Authority from modifying the notified fee without prior approval from the Housing and Urban Development Department.

All Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Municipal Committees and Development Authorities have been instructed to implement the new fee structure with immediate effect and ensure strict compliance within their respective jurisdictions.