BENGALURU: Karnataka is emerging as a dynamic player in the Indian real estate market, demonstrated by an active project pipeline and increased engagement from homebuyers within the grievance-redressal system. The number of complaints registered under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) highlights the growing disputes that often accompany new developments.
According to the latest RERA report, released on March 9 and covering data from 2016 to 2026, Karnataka ranks fourth in the country for complaints, with a total of 12,772 cases filed and 10,322 resolved, reflecting an over 80% resolution rate, nearly matching the national average.
Ramachandra CH, Joint Secretary of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) national chapter, commented: “Delays in project completions are largely due to market conditions, worker shortages, and regulatory clearances. Increased awareness among homebuyers has led to a rise in RERA complaints, but it does not imply that builders are at fault in every instance.”
Despite a strong case-disposal rate, execution remains a challenge. MS Shankar, General Secretary of the Forum for People’s Collective Efforts, noted: “A RERA ‘victory’ often feels unfulfilled. States like Uttar Pradesh (86%), Maharashtra (81%), and Karnataka show favorable disposal rates on paper, but the real test lies in execution. In Karnataka, buyers must often chase administrative offices to commence recovery, a process that can be sluggish.”
Odisha has taken a unique step by implementing both a dedicated framework for apartment ownership and a formal project closure policy under RERA. Plans for a closure policy are also underway in Karnataka, although many other states have yet to take similar actions.
Bimalendu Pradhan, General Secretary of the All Odisha Home Buyers’ Federation, explained, “Recovery rates are still dismal – only 16-17% in Mumbai and 12% in Karnataka. In Karnataka, out of over 1,500 recovery applications, just 292 resulted in actual recovery. In Odisha, merely four out of almost 500 cases sent to the collector were executed. Although the Supreme Court mandates that execution be completed within six months, inadequate infrastructure and limited enforcement capabilities hinder the completion of favorable RERA orders.”
Nationally, Uttar Pradesh leads with 60,021 complaints filed, of which 52,047 have been resolved, followed by Maharashtra and Haryana-Gurugram. Among major states, West Bengal has the lowest activity, with only 61 complaints filed and 51 resolved. Other lower-activity states include Himachal Pradesh (154 filings and 144 disposals), Goa (542 filings and 458 disposals), and Jharkhand (552 filings and 412 disposals).
Union territories present a varied picture; Delhi recorded a steady stream of cases (2,995 filed; 1,779 resolved), while several smaller UTs showed limited regulatory engagement. Across the eight UTs, 3,039 cases were filed, with 1,822 resolved.
