Punjab Cabinet Approves Self-Certification for Factory Building Plans
Move to Boost Investments by Cutting Approval Time from 45 to 30 Days
Chandigarh, April 24, 2025 –
In a business-friendly move aimed at simplifying industrial setup procedures, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday approved the introduction of third-party and self-certification for the approval of factory building plans.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Chief Minister’s official residence.
A spokesperson from the Chief Minister’s Office said that under the existing provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, the approval process for factory building plans is based on strict compliance with building byelaws. This often results in delays, particularly for factories located outside municipal areas where the Labour Department is responsible for approvals.
To streamline the system, the Cabinet has now permitted architects to certify building plans in line with existing byelaws. These certified plans will then be re-verified by the Labour Department for conformity with land use norms, ground coverage, building height, road width, required setbacks, parking availability, and any road widening consents.
While the plans will still be sanctioned under the Factories Act, this reform will ease the procedural burden for investors and reduce the plan approval timeline from 45 days to 30 days.
The initiative is seen as a crucial step toward enhancing Punjab’s ease of doing business and encouraging faster industrial growth.