Uttarakhand RERA Urged to Speed Up Complaint Resolution

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan calls for swift action to address long-pending complaints and ensure timely redressal of grievances in the real estate sector.

ReraReal EstateHomebuyersComplaintsUttarakhandReal EstateJun 21, 2025

Uttarakhand RERA Urged to Speed Up Complaint Resolution

Real Estate:Dehradun, 19 Jun: Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan chaired a high-level review meeting on the functioning of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) at the Secretariat auditorium. He directed officials to intensify efforts to resolve long-pending complaints and ensure timely redressal of grievances related to real estate projects across the state.

Bardhan specifically instructed that all complaints filed before 2022, particularly those pending for over three years, must be treated as high priority and resolved at the earliest. He also called for strict and expedited recovery of outstanding dues from defaulting developers, stressing that delays in justice erode public trust in the regulatory system. He urged officers to hold developers accountable and to adopt a citizen-first approach in dealing with homebuyer complaints.

Among those present during the meeting were Executive Chairman, RERA, Amitabh Mitra, Secretary Ila Giri, Deputy Secretary Arpan Kumar Raju, Under Secretary Narendra Singh Rawat, and several other senior officials.

Since its inception in 2017, as per the official records, Uttarakhand RERA has registered 576 projects and addressed over 1,230 complaints, disposing of around 943 cases. However, many homebuyers continue to suffer due to non-delivery, project delays, and poor quality. While the authority has disposed of a large number of cases, numerous grievances remain unresolved, causing deep frustration among affected allottees. In recent months, there has been a noticeable surge in complaints from homebuyers, especially in areas such as Dehradun, Haridwar, and Rudrapur, citing project delays, lack of promised amenities, and failure to hand over possession on time.

Homebuyers in Uttarakhand have increasingly voiced dissatisfaction over delays in RERA’s grievance redressal process and the absence of clear mechanisms for timely enforcement of orders. Many complainants have highlighted that despite rulings in their favour, enforcement remains a challenge due to lack of follow-up and slow recovery of compensation amounts from erring builders. In several recent cases, RERA had to issue notices to builders for failing to comply with deadlines and for withholding possession beyond committed dates.

Buyers have also raised concerns about standard sale agreements lacking clarity on responsibilities related to structural safety, maintenance, and penalties for delays, often leading to disputes. There are also complaints that developers delay uploading project updates and compliance details, making it difficult for consumers to track progress. In response to these concerns, officials have proposed the creation of dedicated grievance cells at the local level and the development of a more robust and transparent online platform to enable real-time monitoring of project status and complaint tracking. The RERA Act mandates that consumer complaints should ideally be disposed of within 60 days, a provision that the Chief Secretary stressed must be strictly adhered to in all future cases.

It remains to be seen whether today’s meeting can reinvigorate the regulatory mechanism and instil greater accountability among stakeholders in Uttarakhand’s real estate sector. It is generally believed that politicians and corrupt bureaucrats often invest in real estate projects in a benami fashion in collusion with builders and the government. RERA is often tardy in taking strict action against builders who openly violate the bylaws, and the promises made to homeowners regarding deadlines and amenities in their projects. In addition, there have also been complaints that builders try to charge higher than the declared rates from homebuyers at the time of handing over the possession of the flats to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of RERA in Uttarakhand?

The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in Uttarakhand is responsible for regulating the real estate sector, ensuring transparency, and protecting the interests of homebuyers by addressing their complaints and enforcing compliance with the RERA Act.

What did Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan direct during the meeting?

Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan directed RERA officials to intensify efforts to resolve long-pending complaints, especially those filed before 2022, and to ensure strict and expedited recovery of outstanding dues from defaulting developers.

What are some common complaints from homebuyers in Uttarakhand?

Common complaints from homebuyers in Uttarakhand include project delays, non-delivery of promised amenities, poor quality of construction, and failure to hand over possession on time, leading to significant frustration and financial loss.

What measures are being proposed to improve RERA’s functioning?

Proposed measures include the creation of dedicated grievance cells at the local level, the development of a more robust and transparent online platform for real-time monitoring of project status and complaint tracking, and strict adherence to the 60-day complaint resolution timeline mandated by the RERA Act.

What challenges does RERA face in enforcing its decisions?

RERA faces challenges such as delays in the grievance redressal process, lack of clear mechanisms for timely enforcement of orders, and slow recovery of compensation amounts from erring builders. Additionally, there are concerns about political and bureaucratic interference in the real estate sector.