Bhubaneswar, May 8 (BNP): Confusion surrounding flat registration and apartment transactions in Odisha continues despite recent decisions announced by the state cabinet to simplify the process and resolve long-pending issues in the real estate sector.
Although the government approved several reforms related to registration fees and common area transactions in apartment complexes, implementation at the ground level has not yet begun effectively, leaving flat owners, buyers, builders, and other stakeholders uncertain about the actual impact of the new measures.
The delay is expected to continue as the state government is still awaiting the introduction of the required ordinance. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari stated that the proposal is currently pending the Governor’s approval and may come into force within a week.
Last month, the Odisha Cabinet approved a series of measures aimed at removing long-standing hurdles in apartment registration and property transactions involving common spaces. As part of the reforms, the earlier slab-based stamp duty system of 3, 4, and 5 percent was abolished and replaced with a uniform 5 percent stamp duty along with a 2 percent registration fee for all categories of flats across the state.
The Cabinet also announced that instead of repeated payments for registering common spaces in apartment complexes, a one-time fee of Rs 50,000 would be charged. The move was projected as a major relief for apartment owners and developers.
However, several practical concerns regarding the sale and registration of common spaces remain unresolved. Buyers and members of the real estate sector have alleged that the government’s decisions have so far remained limited to policy announcements without visible implementation on the ground.
Residents in several apartment complexes said the legal transfer of common areas from builders to residents’ welfare associations is still incomplete, creating confusion and uncertainty for property owners. In some housing complexes, residents claim hundreds of flat owners are affected by unresolved registration procedures.
Concerns are also growing among middle-class homebuyers that the revised fee structure could lead to higher apartment prices in cities like Bhubaneswar instead of improving affordability and simplifying transactions.
Real estate stakeholders have urged the government to introduce a comprehensive legal framework to address issues related to land transfer, ownership rights, and registration of common spaces in apartment projects. Industry representatives say many housing projects still face legal complications because associated land has not yet been formally transferred from builders to residents’ associations.
Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari maintained that the ordinance, once implemented, is expected to resolve thousands of long-pending issues linked to apartment registration and ownership disputes across Odisha.
It has been nearly eight years since the implementation of Real Estate Regulatory Authority regulations, yet challenges related to flat registration and apartment transactions continue to impact Odisha’s real estate sector. During the previous government’s tenure, apartment sale and purchase activities had slowed significantly due to multiple regulatory hurdles, leaving buyers and developers facing uncertainty for years.
Real estate experts believe the success of the Cabinet reforms will ultimately depend on speedy implementation, legal clarity, and effective coordination between government departments and registration authorities.
