Review and recommendations of Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Regulation
Based on the Ministry of Urban Development’s Model Building Bye-Laws released in 2016, the Government of Tamil Nadu introduced the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules (TNCDBR) in February 2019 as a uniform set of development regulations for the entire state. This approach of adopting common regulations (DCRs) is different from the earlier regulatory landscape, where the Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026, Development Regulations- Volume II document served as the DCR for Chennai Metropolitan Area, administered by CMDA, while the Development Control Regulations for Local Planning Areas served as the DCR for the rest of the state, administered by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning. The broad objectives of TNCDBR are: a) uniform regulation for the entire state, b) fostering more efficient use of land, c) improving compliance and d) promoting Ease of Doing Business. Subsequent to the notification of TNCDBR, amendments were made to the document, to address key lacunae as identified by the Government and other stakeholders during implementation. However, empirical evidence suggests that there is scope for further review and refinement for these regulations which is also timely given the ongoing preparation of Chennai’s Third Masterplan.
The objective of the study is to provide recommendations for strengthening of the TNCDBR based on a comprehensive review of the regulation and study of national and international good practices and aims to promote a balance between regulatory framework and market dynamism.
