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BHUBANESWAR: Concerns are rising among promoters and homebuyers due to delays in the issuance of registration certificates by the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA). An RTI response has highlighted significant lapses from the approved timelines.
As per the Odisha Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, intended to safeguard homebuyers’ interests while regulating the sector, the authority is required to process registration applications within 30 days of receipt. Currently, many approvals are taking much longer than this timeframe.
The RTI response indicated that 72 projects have yet to receive registration certificates even after surpassing the 30-day deadline. Of these, 13 projects experienced delays exceeding 100 days, with one project facing a delay of 128 days.
The extended approval times are hindering project progress since promoters cannot advertise, reserve, or sell units without a valid RERA registration. “ORERA needs to be accountable for adhering to timelines. These delays are causing significant losses to developers, which ultimately affect buyers,” noted realtor Sangram Nayak.
Although ORERA officials cited incomplete documentation as the main cause of delays, developers argue that the authority’s internal processes require immediate improvement. They indicated that insufficient manpower and limited technical expertise within ORERA are slowing down evaluations and approvals.
In a recent directive, ORERA mandated promoters to re-submit any rejected applications within 14 days. Failure to do so will lead to the original application being treated as final, with potential approval or rejection based on existing documents.
“We’re working on improving the process. We’ve recently onboarded a land expert for plotting project assessments and a civil engineer for structural evaluations. The resubmission order was instituted to enhance the timelines of project approvals,” stated ORERA chairperson Asit Kumar Mohapatra.
However, the situation also sheds light on deficiencies in stakeholder engagement. A recent meeting organized by ORERA to address the delays, attended by Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh and various developer and promoter associations, notably lacked representation from homebuyers.
“Delays in registration affect not only promoters but also buyers. It was essential to include buyers in the discussion as they are crucial stakeholders. While rules must be followed, careful scrutiny is also vital to protect buyers’ interests,” emphasized real estate specialist Bimalendu Pradhan.
Historic incidences where ORERA annulled project registrations due to fraudulent land claims further highlight the necessity for stringent verification processes. “ORERA must operate without hindrances. The government must take action to fortify the authority,” Pradhan added.
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