Planning Rules and Regulations

It is to be recognized that any construction project has an impact on the neighborhood even before the first spade of earth is turned up. It is not surprising that state and local regulations have been laid down. These are to be adhered to before a building permit can be obtained. Engineers must be aware of these rules and regulations before they select a site and embark on detailed planning. In India, the following documents are to consulted for information on control rules and regulations: 

1. The National Building Code (NBC 1983) and its revisions, 
2. Development Control Rules of Metropolitan areas, e.g. DDA for Delhi, MMDA  for Madras, 
3. State Government or District or Municipality Building Rules. 

In this section, the NBC requirements will be emphasized. Engineers will have to consult the other relevant documents which are applicable to their local areas. 

All development projects have values attached to them and a wrong site selection may adversely affect the value of the project. Value of a construction is the price a prospective buyer is willing to pay and seller is willing to accept. The purchase price of a site is really only the beginning; part of the value analysis is a real estate parcel. Every parcel of property is subject to property tax which, although levied by the local government body having jurisdiction over the property, may include, in addition to the local municipal (authority), state and regional authority for taxes and levies. This aspect must be given adequate attention by the owner, while relevant control rules will influence the planning and development of the project by the engineer.