GVMC mulls using drones to spot building plan deviations

GVMC uses drones to tackle building deviations, aiming to end unauthorized constructions and increase revenue.

In a first of its kind move, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is mulling to use technology to tackle building deviations in the city. The corporation is working on a pilot project by using drones to check errors and deviations of constructions against the approved building plans.

The project has began in most of the zones, especially in Madhurawada, Kommadi, Pendurthi, Kurmannapalem and a few other areas, where constructions have picked up for the past few years.

As per the GVMC authorities, the project aims to put an end to unauthorised constructions as well as violations committed by the builders and also increase the revenue for the corporation. The usage of technology will also minimise human errors, while checking the deviations.

GVMC Commissioner P. Sampath Kumar said that generally building plans are prepared in AutoCad software. “We will send our staff to check geo-references of the building. Both the plan and geo-reference will be integrated through a software. A drone will be deployed and the high-resolution images can identify errors and ascertain whether there are any deviations from design specifications, compared to the approved plans,” he said.

The civic chief also said that the percentage of deviation will be reported immediately.

He also said that as of now, the project is in pilot basis. It may take around one and a half months to analyse the data, accuracy and others, he said. As part of the project, the GVMC itself will procure drones and integrate the software.

The city has over five lakh assessed structures across the 98 wards in eight zones. As per the GVMC authorities, if this project succeeds, the corporation will be probably the first in the country to use drones to check building deviations. The GVMC is already using drones to spray insecticides in water bodies to tackle mosquito-borne diseases.