Realtors raise the ante for single window system

BHUBANESWAR: Real estate developers have yet again called upon the Government to evolve a single window mechanism to hasten approval and clearance of housing projects. The housing sector is now hamstrung by procedural delays, thanks to a multi-department clearance system that holds back execution of projects by years. With prompt clearance of projects, prospective customers will have a wide array of choice in the housing sector. The cost of housing would come down eventually, thus realising goals of low cost housing, members of Real Estate Developers Association of Orissa (REDA) said, throwing open the ‘Home and Decor’ exhibition-cum-trade fair here on Thursday. REDA president Pradipta Kumar Biswasroy called for introduction of redevelopment schemes for the already utilised lands on Public Private Partnership mode. Under the scheme, land already used for housing in the core areas of the city could be redeveloped and expanded to meet the rising demand for housing among the people,  Biswasroy said. The Association also demanded clarity and uniformity in external infrastructure development fees and reduction of stamp duty. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Bhubaneswar Development Authority should clear the ambiguities and impose a clear fees structure. The reduction of stamp duty from 13 to 7 per cent was welcome, Biswasroy said, adding that the fee should be brought down to a sustainable level. The five-day exhibition was inaugurated by Bapi Nanda and Prashant Panda of the Bhima Bhoi School for Blind, after Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei, Housing and Urban Development Minister Sarada Prasad Nayak, Mayor Anant Narayan Jena, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Saurabh Garg and municipal Commissioner Vishal Dev failed to turn up for unspecified reasons. The exhibition this year hosts around 270 stalls in five air conditioned hangars. It aims to provide one-stop solution to the housing needs of the people, bringing housing and real estate developers, construction companies and finance companies under one roof.  Among others, REDA former president Anup Mohapatra and Prakash Shah of G S Marketing, Kolkata, were present.