BHUBANESWAR: Residents of a prominent housing project in GGP Colony have accused the developer of encroaching on their common road to facilitate a neighboring construction project.
The residents report that heavy vehicles and construction machinery have been using the road designated solely for their housing complex, creating inconvenience and safety hazards for over 50 families. They claim this is happening despite the second project not having secured the necessary approvals from local authorities.
As part of the ongoing dispute, residents further allege that the developer has occupied common areas within their existing complex, including parts of the ground floor, parking spaces, and the main entry gate area, which they assert are being used for unauthorized commercial and institutional activities.
Pabitra Kumar Parida, secretary of the residents’ association, expressed frustration, stating that the unauthorized occupancy has resulted in limited parking and compromised safety at the main gate, which remains open 24/7, along with ongoing nuisance in what is meant to be a purely residential community.
In their efforts to seek resolution, the residents have repeatedly contacted various authorities over the past several months, raising additional issues such as the absence of a compound wall, rainwater stagnation in the complex’s basement, and the deteriorating state of internal infrastructure.
Despite numerous inspection reports and orders favoring the residents from various bodies, including the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) and the Odisha Development Authority (ODA) Court, no corrective measures have been enacted on the ground.
In response to the growing complaints, the housing and urban development department has forwarded the residents’ grievances to key urban authorities, including the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), ORERA, and the directorate of town planning.
Satish Chandra Singh, joint secretary of the housing and urban development department, has instructed these agencies to take appropriate action and keep the petitioners informed of progress while also updating the department.
The department has asked the enforcement bodies to investigate the allegations and act accordingly. “We have reached out to top officials repeatedly, requesting their intervention, but so far, no decisive steps have been taken by the government. We are extremely disappointed by the lack of action,” Parida stated.
