No more extension for registering ongoing projects with Maharashtra RERA

After the deadline of July 31, members of the RERA gave two extensions to builders to allow them to register ongoing projects after paying a fee, which increased after the second extension was granted till September 30.  Till the end of the first deadline on July 31, the RERA had received 10,852 online applications and till date, 13,373 projects have been registered. Another 201 applications are yet to be processed and 9,661 real estate agents have registered.

“In the last month, few have come forward to register and there is no need for another extension,” said a RERA official. RERA Chairman Gautam Chatterjee and member Vijay Satbir Singh both confirmed that no further extension will be granted for ongoing projects.
Officials also said they are now in the process of analysing more than 1,000 complaints submitted by buyers or activists regarding unregistered projects.

“We are verifying the complaints to see if they have failed to register. Many of these complaints have incomplete details and in some of them, no documents have been provided. After the analysis, we will take strict action against those violating the Act,” said Singh.  He added that if a project has not been registered, those involved would be penalised.

“As per the RERA, the developer may have to shell out a fine amounting to 10 per cent of the total project cost. If the developer fails to comply, the person may face imprisonment up to three years or may be slapped a fine of an additional 10 per cent of the project cost or may face both, a jail term and the fine,” Singh added. While the RERA had initially slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on around 480 ongoing housing projects that had been registered between July 31 and August 2, the fine was later increased to Rs 1 lakh for projects registered till August 16. After the second extension, promoters had to pay Rs 2 lakh or double the registration cost, with an upper limit of Rs 10 lakh.