HP Govt Emphasizes Planned and Transparent Real Estate Development

Shimla: Urban development and housing minister Rajesh Dharmani on Wednesday chaired a review meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), emphasizing the state government's commitment to planned, affordable, and environment-friendly development. Keeping in view the unique geographical conditions of the hill state, the minister said the government worked to ensure better housing facilities for people while maintaining ecological balance.

Highlighting the importance of RERA, Dharmani said the authority plays a key role in protecting the interests of homebuyers and resolving property-related disputes. By ensuring transparency and providing complete information about real estate projects, RERA significantly strengthened consumer confidence in the sector.

During the meeting, it was informed that 269 real estate projects and 159 real estate agents are currently registered with RERA in Himachal Pradesh. Of the 194 complaints received so far, 144 have been resolved. Complaint hearings are being conducted online through WebEx, reflecting the effective use of information technology. The RERA deposited Rs 1.2 crore in the state treasury, while nearly Rs 7 crore was refunded to homebuyers.

The minister said developers are mandatorily required to share project plans, layouts, and construction material details, ensuring better quality for buyers. He added that geo-tagged photos and videos of projects would help departments monitor construction quality. Discussions were also held on constituting a building safety council to further strengthen the sector.