Jaipur: Building plan approvals at Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) have slowed after a new order made Fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs) mandatory before final sanction, leaving architects and applicants uncertain about the revised approval process.The July 10 order, issued by additional chief town planner Ankur Dadheech, provides for an “approval in principle” of building plans by JDA. Applicants must then obtain a Fire NOC from Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) based on the provisional approval before the final building plan is sanctioned.Architects empanelled by the urban development and housing (UDH) department said the new procedure lacks clarity and imposes responsibilities beyond their mandate.Speaking to TOI, Lokesh Garg, one of the empanelled architects, said the order is confusing and will unnecessarily complicate building map approvals. “Our job is to prepare the building map and get it approved by JDA. Under the new norms, clients will also expect us to obtain the Fire NOC from JMC. This is not our job. None of the architects in Jaipur are proceeding with new applications,” Garg said.UDH department has empanelled around 80 architects across Rajasthan under Rule 16.3 of Model Rajasthan (Urban Area) Building Regulation, 2025, including about 60 in Jaipur. They are authorised to prepare building plans for structures up to 15 metres in height and on plots measuring up to 2,500 sqm. Officials said more than 90% of buildings in Jaipur fall within this category.Dadheech and senior officials of JDA’s town planning department were unavailable for comment.“The order has been issued as a follow-up to the Fire Provisions Relating to Fire Prevention, Life Safety and Fire Protection Measures For All Types of Buildings in The State of Rajasthan-2026 Act implemented by the local self-govt department on June 16,” an official stated.Fire officials at JMC also questioned the mandate, saying NOCs require physical verification of fire safety systems and on-site compliance. “Besides safety standards for building structures, one needs to comply with installations of several types of firefighting equipment. How can you issue fire NOC without inspection of the buildings?” an official asked.
