Agartala Municipal Corporation to Launch Digital Building Plan Approval System; Airport NOC Mandatory for Height Clearance

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, July 31, 2025

In a landmark move to strengthen digital urban governance, the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) is set to roll out a fully integrated Online Building Plan Approval System (OBPAS) in the coming days. A key highlight of this new digital platform is its linkage with the Airports Authority of India’s (AAI) clearance system, making No Objection Certificate (NOC) from MBB Airport mandatory for height clearance of buildings within designated zones.

The initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 30 between the Urban Development Department of Tripura and the Airports Authority of India, ensuring seamless integration of AMC’s Single Window System with AAI’s No Objection Certificate Application System (NOCAS). The agreement was signed by Purbita Thakur Sinha, Executive Director (ATM), AAI; M. Zhimo, GM (ATM), NER, AAI; and Megha Jain, IAS Director of Urban Development, in presence of M. Suresh, Member (Air Navigation Services), AAI.

The integration will enable real-time verification of proposed building heights with respect to air navigation safety. Buildings falling within permissible limits as per the Colour Coded Zoning Map (CCZM) will be granted auto-clearance, while structures within sensitive "Red Zones" will require a formal NOC from the airport authority.

This digital transition is backed by recent regulatory reforms. The Tripura Building (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2025, notified in the Tripura Gazette (Extraordinary Issue) on July 5, 2025, has made the online single window system mandatory for all building plan submissions. The rules clearly define "building height" as the measurement from the plinth or basement to the structure's top. Additionally, industrial buildings have been exempted from minimum plot size requirements, while low-risk buildings can now be cleared through Self-Certification by applicants and empanelled professionals.

Earlier, on September 4, 2023, AMC revised its building plan approval fees following a Mayor-in-Council decision. The revised fee structure is as follows:



Residential Load Bearing Structures:

Up to 100 sq. mtr: Rs. 80 (was Rs. 60)

100–300 sq. mtr: Rs. 100 (was Rs. 70)

Above 300 sq. mtr: Rs. 200 (was Rs. 140)



Residential RCC Structures:

Below 140 sq. mtr: Rs. 130 (was Rs. 90)

140–300 sq. mtr: Rs. 160 (was Rs. 120)

Above 300 sq. mtr: Rs. 200 (was Rs. 150)

Commercial RCC (above 300 sq. mtr): Rs. 300 (was Rs. 200)

Boundary Wall (per running foot): Rs. 55 (was Rs. 35)

Sanitary Latrine Plan: Rs. 120 (Residential – unchanged), Rs. 250 (Commercial – unchanged)



Though Director of Urban Development Megha Jain, IAS, was unavailable for comment, AMC sources confirmed that the OBPAS platform will soon be live and operational. The integrated system is expected to drastically reduce bureaucratic delays, ensure transparency, and create a more investor-friendly environment for urban development in Tripura.

This development marks a major stride in the state’s mission towards digital governance and smart urban infrastructure, setting a precedent for other municipalities in the state.

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