Puducherry to Launch Industry Facilitation Centre in Major Regulatory Shift
Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan announced a transition toward trust-based governance and the establishment of an Industry Facilitation Centre. The initiative aims to streamline statutory approvals and reduce regulatory burdens for entrepreneurs.
Revamping the Single-Window Ecosystem
The Puducherry administration is establishing a new Industry Facilitation Centre designed to strengthen the Union Territory’s single-window clearance system. Chief Secretary Sharat Chauhan revealed the initiative during the Government of Puducherry-CII Joint Consultative Forum. This move signals a strategic shift from a regulation-heavy governance model to one built on transparency and technical integration.
According to Chauhan, the government aims to eliminate the distinction between public and private sectors, aligning local efforts with India's Vision 2047. The administration is focusing on minimizing regulations and replacing them with a trust-based framework that balances enterprise freedom with firm accountability.
Streamlining Approvals and Third-Party Oversight
Several administrative reforms are already active or in development to improve the regional investment climate:
- Automated Building Certification: The government has introduced automatic approvals for building plans and occupancy certificates, utilizing empanelled third-party certifiers to bypass previous procedural bottlenecks.
- Fire Safety Overhaul: Industries Secretary A. Vikranth Raja announced the development of a localized Fire Prevention, Protection, and Life Safety Code. This new document replaces the aging National Building Code framework with practical, industry-friendly standards.
- Continuous Empanelment: To ensure healthy competition and service quality, the registration of third-party agencies will now be a continuous process without rigid application windows.
Compliance will be maintained through a risk-based sample verification system, ensuring that the removal of manual oversight does not compromise safety or legal standards.
Collaborative Policy and Future Infrastructure
CII Puducherry Chairman M. Nadarajan characterized the Consultative Forum as a vital institutional bridge between policymakers and the private sector. He noted visible improvements in administrative responsiveness and approval timelines. During the session, industry leaders urged the government to focus on five key development areas:
- Upgrading tourism and hospitality infrastructure.
- Enhancing industrial site development.
- Reviewing MSME taxation structures.
- Executing clean mobility initiatives.
The forum included participation from Local Administration Secretary R. Kesavan, Pollution Control Committee Member Secretary N. Ramesh, and Electricity Department HOD G. Kaniyamuthan. The collaborative efforts represent months of consultation aimed at modernizing the territory's economic framework.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
