Bhubaneswar, Dec. 14: People staying within the jurisdiction of the development authority would have to apply for building plan approval and occupancy certificates through a private agency from now.

The office of the agency was inaugurated at the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) Samant Vihar market complex in Chandrashekharpur near Kalinga Hospital Square today.

Officials said BDA had outsourced the job of issuing planning approval and occupancy certificates to a Delhi-based firm with adequate experience in providing citizen-centric services.

Speaking on the role of the private agency, BDA vice-chairman Krishan Kumar said the agency would work as a process manager for the two services on behalf of the development authority.

“People will apply with the private agency that will conduct field and technical verifications and then send an approval letter to BDA for final approval. After the development authority gives its final nod, it will send the approval to the private agency, which, in turn, will hand over the certificate to the applicants,” said Kumar.

The private firm will explain to the applicants about the required documents to be submitted along with the application form.

Once all the no-objection comes through, the certificates will be granted within 60 days. After BDA gives the final nod, people have to pay the fees within 15 days.

Officials said the BDA would pay Rs 2.75 per square feet as processing fees to the private body.

The processing fees will be paid to the firm from the sanction fees paid by applicants to the BDA.

The housing and urban development department has decided to shift the BDA planning wing to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.