Unified RERA Portal to Streamline Real Estate Tracking by March-End
Pune: Homebuyers will soon have a streamlined and user-friendly way to track real estate projects and developers across India. The Union housing and urban affairs ministry, in collaboration with the All India Forum of Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (AIFORERA), is working on a unified RERA portal. This integrated IT platform, expected to go live by the end of March, will unify all state RERA websites under a single, standardized format.
Currently, buyers must visit separate state portals, each with a different layout, to gather information about developers and projects. The new system will standardize this process and create a user-friendly interface, making it easier for buyers to make informed decisions.
"It is a humongous task to compile all the data, but we are on it with the ministry's support and have reached out to all states," said a senior AIFORERA official. Inputs will be taken from technically advanced state RERA platforms, such as those of Maharashtra and Gujarat, to design the portal. These states have sophisticated systems, and their developer modules will serve as reference points.
The portal will allow users to check quarterly project reports, construction timelines, developer history, and the status of approvals, such as occupancy and commencement certificates. Information on residential and commercial developments across all states will be accessible at the click of a button. This system will benefit all stakeholders. It will not only help buyers verify credentials easily but also aid regulatory bodies in effective enforcement of the RERA Act.
While citizen groups have welcomed the initiative, they have flagged gaps in current state portals. "Many websites lack mandatory updates like commencement or occupancy certificates. Developers often skip uploading quarterly reports. Unless these shortcomings are addressed, a central portal may not achieve its full purpose," said Manohar Das, a citizen activist.
Another activist, S. Joshi, noted that many builders float separate special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for each project, making it hard to trace a group's track record. "The central portal must ensure all SPV and parent company data is linked in a transparent manner so there is a clear understanding of the track record of a particular builder," said Joshi.
Some members of the Central Advisory Council (CAC) have also urged the ministry to ensure that the platform is truly citizen-centric and guards buyers against misleading claims. "It should be citizen-friendly and ensure that the data loaded is updated continuously," said a CAC member.
