A KEY amendment to Benayat, Bahrain’s building permits approval system, has been approved by the kingdom’s largest municipal council.
The portal is used to issue permits for all types of building projects – investment, residential, industrial and commercial, among others.
It also enables engineering offices licensed in Bahrain to apply for building permits, enquire on application status, obtain consultation from government entities concerned regarding building permits, pay building permit related fees, as well as apply for other building-related services.
Benayat also allows applicants to obtain all necessary information to prepare drawings and documents required to apply for a building permit.
Northern Municipal Council’s financial, administrative and legislative committee chairwoman Zaina Jassim said numerous complaints were received from citizens who started construction work after getting a permit but were halted following an inspection by the audit team.
“There have been many complaints regarding the Benayat mechanism having a negative impact on the citizen,” she said, during the council’s weekly meeting.
“The speed in issuing the building permit is a positive point. However, there is no time-frame specified binding the auditing team to conduct its inspections which creates an imbalance in the process.
“After receiving a licence a citizen usually commences construction immediately and when the audit team finds violations through inspections they must be amended by the owner which means additional costs and waste of time.”
Currently, the relevant clause states that the team will undertake the tasks of auditing and submitting periodic reports on the applications that were audited, and clarifying the procedures that were taken.
However, the recommended amendment includes specifying a period of one month for auditing which will start as soon as the licence is issued.
“This one-month period also ensures that the citizen doesn’t start construction until the auditing team has conducted its inspection,” she added.
“This clause will allow adequate time for the audit team to conduct its inspection, review the blueprints and designs before the citizen starts construction work.
“This way, there will be no violations and no additional cost on the citizen.
“People are losing their money between court hearings, stalled construction and amendments made to improper designs; the grace period for inspection will allow smooth sailing and protect the rights of all parties involved.”
The proposal was approved unanimously by councillors and it will now be referred to Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf for review.
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