For the Capital Development Authority (CDA) we built building plan approval software called CDA One Window. It replaced paper files with one system for building plans, Building Control applications, NOCs and map matters across Islamabad. Officers can see where every application stands, and residents can check their own case on the web or on a phone.
The client
The Capital Development Authority was set up by ordinance in 1960 to plan and develop Islamabad. Its Building Control work covers residential and commercial buildings across the whole city.
The system is used by two groups with very different needs. CDA officers work inside it every day to examine plans, follow clearances and record decisions. Islamabad residents use the web app and the mobile app to see where their own case stands.
That second group matters. A building plan is often the largest paperwork a family or business deals with, and not knowing its status is a real cost in time and travel.
The problem
Before One Window, building applications, NOC requests and plan approvals moved on paper. The work was real, but nobody could see it. A paper file can only be in one place at a time, and when it moves between sections, its history moves with it or gets lost. The authority needed the same information available to every desk that touches a case, and a status the applicant could read without an office visit.
- Files could not be tracked in a systematic way. Staff found out who held a file by asking around.
- A single request passes through Building Control, clearance departments and decision-makers, so it never sits with one desk.
- Applicants had to visit the office or phone to learn the status of their case.
What we built
One system of record
Every building plan, Building Control application, NOC request and map matter is recorded once, in one application, instead of in separate paper files. Whoever opens a case sees the same record and the same history.
Residential and commercial plans
Both plan types follow the same route through the system, so officers learn one process and residents get one consistent experience.
Building Control applications
Applications are recorded the moment they arrive and tracked from then on, so none of them sits unnoticed between sections.
NOC management
Requests for no-objection certificates are captured and followed up, with pending and cleared items kept apart. Officers can see at a glance which clearances are still holding a case back.
Maps and layout matters
Map issues are handled in the same application as plans and NOCs, rather than in a separate process.
Status for every application
Each case shows whether it is received, under scrutiny, waiting on a clearance, or decided. The status is the same for the officer and the applicant.
Web and mobile apps for residents
Residents can see their pending map and NOC issues online or in the mobile app, so they no longer need to visit to ask. See our mobile app development work.
Website management
CDA can also manage its whole website more easily from the same platform.
How it works
- Application: a plan, NOC request or map matter is recorded.
- Scrutiny: Building Control examines it.
- NOC: the required clearances are requested and followed up.
- Decision: the case is approved, queried or declined.
- Notification: the resident sees the outcome in the web or mobile app.
What changed
- Applications moved from untracked paper files into one window for plans, NOCs and maps.
- Officers can see the stage of every case without asking colleagues.
- Residents check status themselves instead of visiting or calling.
Key facts
| Client | Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad |
|---|---|
| Industry | Government, city planning and development control |
| Coverage | Building plans across Islamabad |
| Plan types | 2: residential and commercial |
| Resident apps | 2: web and mobile |
| Window | 1 for plans, NOCs and maps |
Questions
What is building plan approval software?
It is a system that tracks a building application from lodging to decision. It shows who is examining a case, which NOCs are pending, and lets the applicant check status.
What does CDA One Window cover?
Building plans, Building Control applications, NOC requests and map matters for residential and commercial buildings in Islamabad.
Can residents check their application on a phone?
Yes. Residents can see pending map and NOC issues in the mobile app or on the web.
Does it handle NOCs?
Yes. NOC requests are recorded and followed up in the same application as plan approvals, with pending and cleared requests kept apart.
Does it also manage the CDA website?
Yes. Alongside the application, CDA can manage its whole website more easily from the same platform.
Can a similar system be built for a housing society or municipality?
Yes. Development authorities, municipal bodies and housing societies can use the same approach. See our custom software development page or book a free consultation.
Need something similar? Tell us how your team works today and we will scope it with you. Contact Ezitech or WhatsApp us, 24/7. Our office is at #304-G Amna Plaza, Main Peshawar Road, Rawalpindi.