PUNE: The state registration department is set to merge its property registration site with the MahaRERA portal to prevent fraudulent property transactions. This proposal will be discussed in an upcoming meeting with government agency representatives.
Senior officials confirmed on Tuesday that this integration will allow sub-registrars to verify project RERA registration numbers in real-time prior to completing any transaction.
“We have received approval for this process, which will be initiated following consultations. This move will verify project approvals and title statuses, ensuring that developers are RERA-registered before any property registration,” an official stated.
Developer associations have raised concerns about existing loopholes that enable multiple registrations for the same property, leading to years of litigation, financial losses, and diminished trust among homebuyers.
Last month, representatives from the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) appealed to both state and central governments for the integration. NAREDCO’s state vice-president, Hitesh Thakkar, emphasized, “This initiative is crucial for transparency and smoother transactions. It will empower buyers and minimize duplicate registrations, as well as prevent the sale of flats in unregistered projects.”
NAREDCO Pune’s vice-president Abhay Kele added that synchronizing the two portals would eliminate illegal registrations right at the source and introduce much-needed accountability.
Homebuyers welcomed the decision, deeming it overdue. “MahaRERA was implemented in Maharashtra eight years ago with over 50,000 registered projects. Such an integration should have occurred much earlier,” remarked MM Mani, a professional in the real estate sector.
Pune’s Amruta Patil, who plans to purchase a home soon, expressed her reassurance: “Seamless coordination between the portals will assure us that our investments are secure. Buyers shouldn’t have to sort through complicated ownership details alone,” she stated.
This decision aligns with the Centre’s upcoming Registration Bill, 2025, which aims to modernize and digitize property transactions across the country.
Officials noted that the rollout in Maharashtra will commence with information sharing and verification modules, followed by real-time validation of ownership and project approvals in subsequent phases. Developer associations highlighted that fraudulent registrations not only lead to financial losses but also emotional distress. “It’s often only after payment that buyers discover the property has already been sold. The resulting legal battles can drag on for years. Linking the portals can help prevent such situations,” a representative from a prominent association commented.
