MahaRERA registers 435 new projects at Dussehra; buyers demand transparency on delivery

MahaRERA registered 435 new projects on the occasion of Dussehra. The projects propose a total of 32,981 flats, with an estimated investment of about Rs 23,719 crore. Along with these, 210 projects received approval for extension of their deadlines and revisions to the plans of 609 other projects were cleared. This has raised questions about delivery and monitoring of projects.

Ramesh Prabhu, a chartered accountant, is founding chairman of Mahasewa (Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association). He says the regulator's work should be judged on how many projects were completed, how many are stalled and how many have lapsed. It should also be seen how transparent the regulator is in protecting homebuyers, he says.

By region, the Pune region saw 140 new registrations, including projects in Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli and Solapur. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) led with 201 projects. Vidarbha registered 32, Khandesh 24 and Marathwada 8 projects. Dadra and Nagar Haveli recorded 2 projects and Daman 1.

Under the rules, regulation is not limited to new registrations. A developer must state the project's completion date and, in case of delay, must get the deadline extended. Failing to do so risks the project being declared lapsed. Any change to an approved plan also requires MahaRERA's approval. Even so, approval figures alone do not make clear why delays occurred or what kind of revisions were made, so how far a project has progressed cannot be known.

On workload, MahaRERA reported clearing 6,486 housing project applications between April and September 2026. Of these, 2,056 projects received registration numbers, 2,053 extension proposals were approved and 2,377 revision proposals were cleared.

Including approvals up to October 19, a total of 7,740 applications have been cleared. These comprise 2,491 newly registered projects, 2,263 extensions and 2,986 revisions. The figures show that regulation does not mean only opening the way for new construction. Keeping watch on project timelines and approved plans is also an important part of it.

With Diwali near, MahaRERA has again said that projects must meet its legal, technical and financial criteria before approval. The authority also says its registration department worked round the clock for the Dussehra approvals.

Ramesh Prabhu says: "Transparency should not stop at applications and registrations. MahaRERA should regularly publish, for every project, the registration date, original and revised deadlines, the status of extension, completion and OC (occupation certificate), flats proposed and delivered, and the reasons for delay or lapse. Where the law permits, it should also disclose the status of complaints, orders of the appellate tribunal, NCLT proceedings and action taken. Many projects have been delayed or have lapsed since 2017. MahaRERA should make clear how many have been completed, how many have an OC and how many are stalled. Project-level records were earlier on its portal, but they are reportedly now hidden from public view. The figures should be matched against records that can be verified. A launch at a festival does not mean homes will actually be delivered."

Since 2017, MahaRERA has received 56,944 applications and 56,382 projects have been registered. A total of 452 applications were returned after seeking additional information and 110 are still under scrutiny.

These figures reflect different tasks. Registrations add new projects, extensions relate to deadlines, and revisions concern proposed changes to approved plans.

The success of Maharashtra's housing market will not be measured by festive-season registrations alone. It will also depend on whether new projects turn into ready homes, and whether existing projects remain accountable to the timelines and plans that buyers rely on.