Bhubaneswar: The revenue and disaster management department has registered 7,037 flats across Odisha in the past three years that strengthened legal ownership of buyers and streamlined land records for the government, the assembly was informed recently.The highest number of registrations — 4,712 flats — was recorded in the 2024 financial year, while 2025 saw a steep decline to just 593 flat registrations, revenue minister Suresh Pujari said in a written reply in the assembly.As per data, 1,732 flats were registered in 2023, followed by a sharp surge in 2024, largely driven by compliance and increased awareness among buyers. But the registrations dropped drastically in 2025 till Oct, raising concerns among stakeholders.Officials said flat registrations are crucial as they ensure legal ownership to homebuyers and compliance with the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, which mandates registration of apartments and formation of associations of allottees.Khurda district, which includes Bhubaneswar, accounted for the bulk of registrations, with 4,048 flats registered in 2024 alone. Puri was the other district that reported consistent registrations during the period, while most districts reported nil registrations.The government attributed the fall in the 2025 registrations to multiple factors, including stricter scrutiny of documents by sub-registrars, action against erring officials and increased enforcement of apartment law provisions. Officials said many builders failed to meet statutory requirements such as clear land titles, approved building plans, completion and occupancy certificates and execution of deeds of declaration under the Apartment Act, leading to delayed or stalled registrations.The dip also coincided with the government’s crackdown on irregularities. Over the past year, the department has suspended, transferred and initiated disciplinary action against several sub-registrars over allegations of misconduct, corruption and violation of procedures.Authorities said that mandatory CCTV surveillance in offices, online appointment systems and tighter inspection mechanisms were also introduced, slowing down registrations in the short term but aimed at improving transparency and higher registration in future.The reply highlighted that the state govt is implementing wide-ranging reforms in land and registration services, including digitization of land records, integration of registration data with Bhulekh (a govt website where land records are available), time-bound service delivery and stricter enforcement of laws.The minister in the reply stated that efforts are underway to simplify procedures and clear pending cases, while ensuring that only fully compliant flats are registered, a move that is expected to boost buyer confidence and prevent future disputes.
