Town Planning Section under Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) called on GEl Church Complex last week as a part of their drive to check multi-storey structures in State capital for structural deviations on orders from Municipal Commissioner Prashant Kumar. Although the team measured the front setback and area to be left for road widening, apparent variations in the side and rear setbacks of the building were forgotten during the drive.
As per building by-laws, floor map for a structure is approved only after the structure has some vacant space around it, called setbacks. These setbacks depend on the nature of the building (commercial or residential) and its height.
But in the case of GEl Church Complex, its side setbacks clash with the front setback of AC Market, another shopping complex adjacent to it. The civic body mandarins could not even tell the measurements of the setbacks that these two building are supposed to maintain.
“In the last inspection visit, our focus was on reclaiming the land for road widening from structures along Main Road. The road widening land included by Church Complex was marked for repossession and they have been notified to vacate the area,” stated Town Planner Uday Shankar Sahay.
After measurements taken during the inspection visit on May 12, it was found that GEl Church Complex has hogged 18 feet of land meant for road widening, adding it to their front setback measuring 22 feet. This piece of land is presently being used as a parking lot by those coming to the shopping complex. Keeping land clear for road is another decisive factor in approval of floor plans for a building.
Amidst all this, the building of AC Market continues to elude the attention of urban local body, despite the fact that its front and side setbacks are difficult to distinguish from the side setback of its neighbouring Church Complex.
“A survey will be conducted soon to measure the rear and side setbacks of all multi-storey building in the city, including GEl Church Comple and AC Market. Engineering Section will be asked to take necessary action in case irregularities are found in their setbacks or parking spaces,” assured Sahay.
Although Church Complex authorities have been directed to give up the encroached land, no definite deadline has accompanied the notice. This piece of land will be used to develop a top-notch parking place in front of GEl Church Complex.
Permissions extended to GEl Church Complex by RMC and Ranchi Regional Development Authority for vertical expansion also remain unclear too. According to sources, the plans for a G+1 structure was approved by RRDA back in 1984 but authorisation for the floors the building has gained during the last decade remains unclear.
Even the authorities looking after GEl Church Complex are unsure of the say-so by urban civic body, citing unavailability of records owing to the time that has passed since the documents were drafted.