The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has introduced new building bylaws aimed at boosting planned development in both old and new city areas. Under the revised rules, maps for shopping malls can now be approved on 18-metre-wide roads, while clinics and primary schools will be allowed on nine-metre-wide roads.

In LDA’s jurisdiction, maps for single residential buildings will be permitted on roads narrower than nine metres—provided they are built by government departments and located in areas with residential land use, excluding illegal colonies.

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The changes are expected to ease construction norms, encourage investment, and generate more commercial opportunities, especially in densely populated parts of old Lucknow. On Wednesday, the LDA conducted an awareness meeting with builders and traders at a hotel in Chowk, where Joint Secretary Sushil Pratap Singh, Zonal Officer Ravi Nandan Singh, and Assistant Engineer Satish Yadav outlined the benefits of the new bylaws.

Officials highlighted that the new rules allow map approval on smaller plots, online registration to save time and costs, and a greater scope for commercial activities within residential buildings. Developers can now undertake large projects on smaller land parcels with relaxed floor area ratio (FAR) norms, increased building heights, and eased conditions for industrial and tourism-related ventures such as hotels and homestays.

Key Provisions of the New Bylaws

  • No map approval required for residential plots up to 100 sq m and commercial plots up to 30 sq m; a token fee of Rs 1 after online registration.
  • Automatic trust-based online approval for residential buildings up to 500 sq m and commercial buildings up to 200 sq m.
  • Commercial use in residential buildings is allowed on 24-metre-wide roads in cities with over 10 lakh population, and on 18-metre-wide roads in smaller cities; 25 per cent of a home can be used for professional work (doctors, lawyers, etc.) without separate map approval, provided parking is available.
  • FAR limits abolished on roads wider than 45 metres; building height restrictions removed except near airports and ASI-protected monuments; additional free FAR for green-rated buildings.
  • Ground coverage limits removed; setback reduced to 15 m and 12 m for buildings taller than 15 m; parking mandatory.
  • NOC requirements abolished for hotels, hospitals, and paying guest accommodations.

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According to LDA officials, the relaxed norms are expected to spur real estate growth, attract investors, and create more economic opportunities across the city.