Government Launches Nationwide Real Estate Projects Database for Homebuyers

NEW DELHI: In a significant move to empower potential homebuyers and ensure transparency in the real estate sector, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has announced the creation of a nationwide database of real estate projects. This initiative, launched through a newly established unified portal, aims to provide comprehensive details of projects by different builders across the country, helping buyers make informed decisions.

The unified portal was officially inaugurated by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at the RERA Central Advisory Council (CAC) meeting. This meeting came just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized RERA authorities and state government officials for failing to address the grievances of homebuyers and the concerns of builders.

During the meeting, homebuyer representatives expressed strong opposition to the Maharashtra government's proposal to introduce a separate RERA-like law for redevelopment projects under the Maharashtra Housing Policy 2025. Abhay Upadhyay, representing the Forum for People's Collective Efforts (FPCE), urged the central government to intervene and halt this move. Upadhyay argued that such a provision would undermine RERA's uniform framework and create jurisdictional confusion, potentially leading to 'forum shopping' by builders.

Upadhyay further stated that builders might prefer the state law over RERA registration, which could open a Pandora's box for other states to create similar laws. It is worth noting that the FPCE had previously challenged a similar law in West Bengal, and the Supreme Court declared it ultra vires.

Legal department representatives at the meeting also expressed reservations about the proposed separate law, emphasizing that RERA, being a central legislation, remains supreme.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs highlighted the council's recommendations to ensure effective implementation of RERA orders and to curb misleading advertisements. The council emphasized the need for uniformity in RERA implementation, faster registration, compliance with orders, and clarity in definitions.

The council also suggested conducting a detailed exercise to identify necessary measures to further strengthen RERA, given its eight-year journey. This initiative aims to focus on the next generation of reforms in RERA, ensuring a more robust and transparent real estate market for all stakeholders.

The launch of the nationwide database and the unified portal marks a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in the real estate sector, ultimately benefiting homebuyers and promoting a fair and regulated market.