MahaRERA clears 435 projects for Dussehra, but delays and plan changes raise concerns

The MahaRERA Dussehra bonanza saw 435 projects registered covering 32981 proposed flats and an estimated investment of Rs 23719 crore However extensions granted to 210 projects and plan corrections approved for 609 others raise questions about project delivery and oversightpopcorn number7740 descApplications approved since April 2026 till October 19 classDefaultChartered Accountant Ramesh Prabhu founding chairman of MahaSEWA Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association says the regulatorrsquos performance must be judged by completed stalled and lapsed projects and transparency in protecting homebuyersPune tops regional registrationsPune recorded 140 new registrations including projects in Satara Kolhapur Sangli and Solapur The Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR led with 201 projectsRegistrations at a glanceRegion ProjectsMMR 201Pune region 140Vidarbha 32Khandesh 24Marathwada 8Dadra amp NagarHaveli 2Daman 1Why extensionscorrections matterRegulation goes beyond new registrations and developers must declare completion dates and seek extensions for delays otherwise projects risk being classified as lapsed Changes to approved plans also require MahaRERA clearance However approval figures alone do not explain delays or the nature of corrections leaving project delivery progress unclearScale of workloadBetween April and September 2026 MahaRERA reported approving 6486 housingproject applications Of these 2056 projects received registration numbers 2053 extension proposals were approved and 2377 correction proposals received clearanceAlong with approvals recorded till October 19 a cumulative total of 7740 applications were approved including 2491 newly registered projects 2263 extensions and 2986 corrections These figures highlight how regulation involves considerably more than opening the door to new development Maintaining oversight of project timelines and approved plans is also central to the processFulfiling criteriaWith Diwali approaching MahaRERA has reiterated that projects must satisfy its legal technical and financial criteria before receiving approval The authority also said its registration department worked round the clock to facilitate the Dussehra clearancesWhere are the homesRamesh Prabhu chartered accountant and founding chairman of MahaSEWAlsquoTransparency must extend beyond applications and registrations MahaRERA should regularly publish each projectrsquos registration date original and revised deadlines extensions completion and Occupation Certificate OC status proposed versus delivered flats and reasons for delays or lapses Where legally permissible it should also disclose complaint status appellate tribunal orders NCLT proceedings and action taken Since 2017 many projects have been delayed or lapsed MahaRERA must clarify how many are complete have OCs or remain stalled Projectlevel records previously available on its portal have reportedly been removed from public view Figures must be reconciled with verifiable records Festive launches do not guarantee delivered homesrsquo56944 applications received since 201756382 projects registered452 returned asking for additional information110 remain under scrutinyNumbers behind the festive pushhellip435 new registrations Projects cleared on Dussehra32981 proposed flats Potential housing supplyRs 23719 cr Estimated investment in newly registered projects210 deadline extensions Projects granted additional time609 plan corrections Existing projects approved for plan changesFigures reflect distinct regulatory functions Registrations add new projects extensions address deadlines and corrections cover proposed changes to approved plansThe bigger pictureThe success of Maharashtrarsquos housing market will not be measured by festiveseason registrations alone It will also depend on whether new projects translate into completed homes and whether existing developments remain accountable to the timelines and plans on which buyers rely