Odisha Government Launches Drive to Regularize Apartment Projects

BHUBANESWAR: The state government of Odisha has launched a comprehensive exercise to address the challenges faced by apartment projects that have deviated from their sanctioned plans or have been constructed without the required approvals. This initiative aims to provide significant relief to home buyers who have been inconvenienced due to these issues.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja recently convened a meeting with officials from the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA), the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department, and the Law department, along with other stakeholders. The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss the apartment regularization scheme and the compliance requirements of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).

During the meeting, Chief Secretary Ahuja directed the H&UD and Law departments to work in coordination to draft a proposal that would be legally tenable. “Following the meeting, both departments have been tasked with carefully drafting the proposal within the next two to three weeks for further deliberation on the matter,” an official from the H&UD department, privy to the development, stated. The H&UD department will play a crucial role in formulating the draft.

The apartment regularization scheme is designed to provide a pathway for the regularization of buildings that have been constructed without prior approval or deviated from the sanctioned plans. According to sources, the state government, in its notification issued on February 1, 2023, allowed the registration of apartments completed before the commencement of RERA in the state, which was prior to February 25, 2017. However, this provision was stayed by the Orissa High Court to address any ambiguities in the application of the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023. The act clearly bars the registration of an apartment if it does not have an occupancy certificate (OC) and if the association of allottees of the apartment has not been formed and registered.

In addition to the regularization scheme, Chief Secretary Ahuja also issued directions to address issues related to the use of government land for approach roads in private projects. “The department has been instructed to resolve this matter within a fortnight. Initial discussions suggest that such roads will be handed over to the projects, provided the land is not in use and the developer is willing to pay double the current valuation price of the land,” the H&UD official added.

This drive by the Odisha government is a significant step towards ensuring the smooth functioning of the real estate sector and protecting the interests of home buyers. The coordinated efforts of various departments and stakeholders are expected to bring about a positive change in the regulatory landscape of the state.