Odisha Govt to Review Apartment Regularisation and RERA Issues with ORERA, Key Departments

Bhubaneswar: With rising concerns over unauthorised constructions and real estate legal ambiguities, the Odisha government is set to hold high-level discussions with key stakeholders including the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) on apartment regularisation schemes and implementation of RERA provisions.

Meeting Chaired by Chief Secretary

According to official sources, the Chief Secretary will soon convene a joint meeting involving:

ORERA
Forest & Environment Department
Revenue Department
Development Authorities
Town Planning Directorate

The objective is to streamline housing project registration, ensure compliance with RERA, and resolve disputes around land use, encroachments, and legalisation of apartment buildings constructed without approvals.

Key Issues to Be Discussed:

Regularisation of unauthorised apartment constructions
Encroachment of conservancy lanes and private land passages
Permission for using government land as approach roads
Projects stuck due to forest land issues
Conversion of leasehold land to freehold

Background: Regularisation vs RERA Restrictions

Earlier this year, the state government issued a notification on February 1, allowing registration of apartments completed before RERA’s commencement (i.e., before February 25, 2017). This was part of a special apartment regularisation scheme to cover buildings constructed without approval or in deviation from sanctioned plans.

However, the Orissa High Court stayed the notification, citing conflict with the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, which bars:

Registration of apartments without Occupancy Certificates (OC)
Projects without a registered association of allottees

The housing sector in Odisha has seen rapid urbanisation, often resulting in deviations from approved plans. Many homebuyers now face uncertainty due to delays in registration, occupancy, and legal recognition of their flats.