Prayagraj: The Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) has begun a major exercise to scrutinise notices issued over the past 10 years to properties found violating building bylaws, approved maps, land-use norms and other development regulations. The exercise is initiated on the directions of PDA Vice-Chairman Rishi Raj, with officials reviewing old records and notices to identify buildings that may now be eligible for regularisation under the relaxed provisions of Master Plan-2031.As part of the process, PDA is re-examining notices issued to more than 30,000 property owners over the years. Many of these buildings were earlier found in violation of construction norms and could not be regularised under the provisions of Master Plan-2021. However, following several relaxations introduced by the state govt and incorporated in Master Plan-2031, such property owners are now being given another opportunity to legalise their constructions by depositing the prescribed compounding fee.“The exercise is not a fresh crackdown but an effort to revisit old cases and extend the benefits of the revised regulations to eligible property owners. The authority believes that a large number of buildings that earlier remained outside the scope of regularisation can now be brought within the legal framework,” said the PDA VC.The exercise is also expected to significantly strengthen PDA’s finances. Officials estimate that the authority may receive more than Rs 1,500 crore through the collection of compounding fees from eligible properties. The additional revenue is expected to enhance PDA’s financial position and provide resources for future development projects and infrastructure initiatives.According to PDA officials, a detailed review of records from the last decade is currently underway. As more records are scrutinised, the number of properties covered under the exercise could increase from over 30,000 to nearly 40,000. The review process is also helping PDA digitise and organise its records of the past 10 years and beyond. Officials said old notices, property details and related documents are being compiled and verified, creating a digital database for future reference and administrative efficiency.To ensure smooth implementation, dedicated teams have been constituted under the supervision of the PDA secretary. These teams will identify eligible cases, coordinate with property owners, process applications and facilitate the collection of compounding fees for regularisation under the provisions of Master Plan-2031.
