Mumbai's BMC to Accelerate Real Estate Approvals with AI and AutoDCR
Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), is set to introduce artificial intelligence (AI)-driven reforms and integrate them with autoDCR software. This move aims to accelerate clearances for the real estate sector, as announced by municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide at a NAREDCO event.
AutoDCR is an AI-infused software platform that automates building plan scrutiny and construction permit approvals. It reads CAD drawings and maps them against local development control regulations (DCR) to ensure compliance, significantly speeding up the approval process.
Civic bodies across the country have started using autoDCR for online submission and approval of building plans. The software was introduced to improve transparency and curb malpractices by automatically checking key parameters such as building height, open spaces, and layout compliance. The system scans architectural drawings and verifies them against development control rules, reducing manual intervention and speeding up approvals.
Ten years ago, as part of the ease of doing business (EoDB) initiative, the BMC became the first entity to adopt autoDCR. Since then, the system has evolved, and the state government has also adopted it after streamlining development control regulations (DCR). “The system has evolved, and we are now working to further improve it. The state government, after streamlining development control regulations (DCR), has also adopted this system,” said Ashwini Bhide.
Many other corporations look up to this system. Bhide emphasized that they will continue to explore new ways to further improve the ease of doing business while ensuring the speed of doing business. “There are a lot of other things which we can do in terms of standardisation of procedures, whatever issues or limitations the current or Auto-DCR system has, we can improve on them, and another big tool, the kind of magic wand which we have, is artificial intelligence,” she added.
Bhide also mentioned that a new phase for autoDCR is being developed using AI to minimize human interaction further. This will help in reducing errors and enhancing the overall efficiency of the approval process.
Niranjan Hiranandani, chairman of NAREDCO, emphasized the need to promote rental housing to achieve the goal of ‘Housing for All’. He said rental housing must be incentivized through tax reliefs and policy reforms to ensure affordability at scale. “While the rapid expansion of housing loans has improved home-buying affordability, supply-side innovations such as rental housing are essential to sustain this momentum and cater to diverse urban needs,” Hiranandani stated.
Hiranandani was speaking at an event where Kamlesh Thakur, founder and managing director of Srishti Group, was elected as the new president of NAREDCO Maharashtra. The integration of AI and autoDCR is expected to bring significant improvements to the real estate sector, making it more efficient and transparent for developers and homebuyers alike.
