Advertisement
Odisha has launched a comprehensive reform to strengthen real estate regulation under the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA), following recent court directives and ongoing compliance issues. The state has mandated that all planning and development authorities must now relay project approval data to ORERA in real time, with full digital integration through platforms like Bhulekh and SUJOG. Enforcement has been overhauled to include monthly violation targets, inter-agency crackdowns, and recovery of penalties under the OPDR Act. The move builds on a series of High Court rulings that have reshaped buyer protections across the state, ushering in a more transparent and accountable real estate landscape.
Odisha's housing and urban development authorities recently stepped up their efforts to enforce ORERA rules and curb unregulated projects. Now, all bodies approving housing or plotted developments are required to inform ORERA in real time, with seamless digital link-ups to the Bhulekh and SUJOG platforms. This real-time reporting will be facilitated through direct integration with the Bhulekh land records system and the SUJOG e-governance platform, ensuring full digital traceability of every sanctioned project. Advertisement
The changes come as a result of a high-level interdepartmental meeting led by Odisha's Housing & Urban Development department, which acknowledged that unauthorized real estate activity remains rampant across various cities, particularly in and around Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. A key outcome of the meeting was the establishment of a monthly enforcement calendar. This calendar sets quantifiable targets for field officers to identify, report, and act against illegal or non-compliant projects. Enforcement teams will now consist of officials from ORERA, the revenue department, local urban bodies, and disaster management authorities-ensuring a coordinated strike force against violations.
One of the most significant developments is the government's decision to empower ORERA to recover penalties from defaulting developers by invoking the Odisha Public Demands Recovery (OPDR) Act. This gives ORERA quasi-judicial recovery powers previously unavailable to the authority and addresses one of the longstanding challenges lack of enforcement teeth against repeat violators.
In parallel, the government is fast-tracking staffing for ORERA by deputing senior officers at the level of Joint Secretary (Administration) and Deputy Secretary (Enforcement). It has also proposed hiring experienced retired officers to strengthen ORERA's investigative and legal arms. These steps are designed to bolster the institutional capacity of ORERA so that it is not merely a regulator on paper but a truly operational watchdog.
These administrative reforms align with a series of landmark judgments recently issued by the Odisha High Court, which have significantly expanded the scope of homebuyer protections. The court barred developers from selling or building on common spaces, upheld the creation of a 1% defect liability escrow fund, mandated transparency in project phasing, and pulled up local bodies for greenlighting irregular developments. These judicial interventions have set a strong precedent, empowering both the state and ORERA to enforce RERA provisions more decisively.
Furthermore, the state has directed developers to regularly update their project details on ORERA's upgraded digital platform. This includes financial disclosures, legal ownership documents, project status, and timelines all of which will be available to homebuyers and investors online. The ORERA portal has already begun issuing notices to developers who fail to update these details.
Real estate experts and legal analysts have largely welcomed the reforms, noting that the combination of technology, legal muscle, and administrative clarity can bring long-overdue discipline to the sector. Several stakeholders believe these measures could also reduce litigation, as buyers will now have access to verified, timely information and quicker redressal mechanisms.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
