India, Oct. 2 -- The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has cleared an important change in the way land-use approvals are processed, handing development authority boards, including the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), the power to approve land-use changes for plots of up to 6,000 sq metres. The move does away with the state-level clearance earlier required for such parcels, a process that could stretch for months and add to developers' holding costs.

For developers, the change could mean a shorter, more predictable approval cycle, particularly for small- and mid-sized projects. Experts say quicker land-use clearances could bring more plots into the development pipeline, improve project viability and allow construction to begin sooner.

The Cabi...