Odisha Rolls Out Sweeping Reforms to Strengthen RERA and Transparency

Odisha Rolls Out Sweeping Reforms to Strengthen RERA and Transparency

A New Era for Real Estate Regulation in Odisha

In a landmark move to enhance the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), the Odisha government has announced a series of robust reforms aimed at boosting transparency, coordination, and enforcement across the state’s real estate sector. The reforms were unveiled during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary at Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, signaling a new chapter in the state’s commitment to homebuyer protection and builder accountability.

Real-Time Project Approvals and Digital Integration

A cornerstone of the reforms is the mandate that all planning and development authorities under the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department must notify the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) in real time regarding any project plan approvals. To bridge long-standing communication gaps, a digital data-sharing protocol will soon be established, ensuring seamless coordination between departments.

ORERA 2.0: Smarter, Integrated, and More Transparent

The government has also announced the integration of ORERA 2.0 with the Bhulekh (land records) and SUJOG portals. This move will enable automatic data synchronization and cross-verification of approved projects, drastically reducing duplication and misinformation in the sector.

Stronger Enforcement and Local-Level Monitoring

• H&UD and Revenue & Disaster Management to recover ORERA penalties under OPDR Act
• Enforcement support from BDA and BMC extended to ORERA
• Monthly enforcement calendar to ensure systematic action

Enforcement is set to become more rigorous, with the H&UD Department now collaborating with the Revenue & Disaster Management Department to recover penalties imposed by ORERA under the Odisha Public Demand Recovery (OPDR) Act. For the first time, enforcement support from the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be extended to ORERA, and a monthly enforcement calendar will be published to ensure systematic action.

Institutionalized Coordination and Local Reporting

Monthly coordination meetings between ORERA, H&UD, and Revenue Departments will be institutionalized, while District Collectors and Tehsildars will now submit regular reports on illegal real estate activities. The implementation of RERA provisions has been made a standing agenda item in collector review meetings, guaranteeing consistent district-level attention.

Capacity Building and Grievance Redressal

• ORERA to expedite recruitment for key sanctioned posts
• Empowered to recruit retired officials via open ads
• Regular grievance redressal meetings with H&UD officials

To address staffing gaps, ORERA will expedite recruitment for key sanctioned posts such as Joint Secretary (Admin) and Deputy Secretary (Enforcement), and will be empowered to recruit retired government officials via open advertisements. Regular grievance redressal meetings between ORERA and H&UD officials will ensure timely solutions to citizen complaints.

A Paradigm Shift in Real Estate Regulation

These sweeping reforms mark a paradigm shift in Odisha’s real estate regulation, focusing on protecting homebuyers, enhancing transparency, and enforcing builder accountability. The state’s proactive approach is set to create a safer, more reliable, and more transparent real estate market for all stakeholders.