They Got Building Plans Approved in 24 Hours. An Investigation Later Exposed What Went Wrong.
Indore, July 6, 2026: A system introduced to make building approvals faster has come under scrutiny in Indore after officials uncovered alleged misuse of the automated permit process.
The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has cancelled the licences of five consultants and engineers following an investigation into irregularities linked to its online 'deemed approval' system for building permissions.
Officials say the digital mechanism, designed to approve eligible building plans within 24 hours without manual intervention, was allegedly manipulated to reduce approval fees and lower future property tax liabilities.
What did the investigation find?
According to IMC, a review of around 300 online building permissions issued over a two-month period uncovered multiple irregularities.
The alleged violations included:
- Under-reporting the actual construction area to pay lower approval fees.
- Showing developed plots as vacant land.
- Carrying out unauthorised joint construction by merging separate plots.
- Submitting incorrect information to obtain quicker approvals.
Earlier, notices had already been issued to 47 property owners and consultants during the investigation.
Five consultants lose licences
Following the inquiry, IMC cancelled the licences of five consultants and engineers:
- Bharat Panchal
- Rahul Sharma
- Yogesh Jain
- Devendra Patel
- Ashutosh Sankhla
The corporation said the professionals have been barred from practising within the municipal limits.
Digital approvals now under wider review
The civic body has begun examining all building permissions issued through the online approval platform to identify additional violations.
Officials said the review aims to recover pending dues wherever required and strengthen compliance with building regulations.
The action is part of a broader effort to improve transparency in digital approval systems while preventing misuse of automated processes.
Why this matters
Many urban local bodies across India are adopting online approval systems to speed up construction permissions and reduce manual intervention.
However, the Indore case highlights that digital systems also require strong verification and regular audits to ensure faster approvals do not come at the cost of regulatory compliance.
Grihik Takeaway
Digital building approvals are transforming how construction permissions are issued across India. But the latest action by IMC shows that technology alone cannot eliminate irregularities. Strong audits, accurate disclosures and continuous monitoring remain essential to protect the integrity of online approval systems.