VIJAYAWADA: The government has introduced sweeping amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Building Rules, 2017, to accelerate construction activity, simplify approvals and attract investments in the housing, real estate and commercial sectors. Issued through GO-Ms-161 by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, the reforms are aligned with the chief minister’s Swarna Andhra@2047 vision of transparent, technology-driven governance and sustainable urban development. Expired building permissions can also be revalidated under a defined framework, while non-commercial places of public worship have been exempted from building permit fees.A major reform is the introduction of phased fire clearances for high-rise projects. Authorities said the move would reduce delays without compromising safety.The amendments also rationalise setback norms, road-width requirements and parking standards. Dedicated parking floors will not be counted for setback calculations, though they will remain subject to statutory safety clearances.