Single Window Clearance A Must For Smooth RERA

Over the past one year, the current government had made several path breaking announcements and brought in a series of reforms that guarantees to take Indian real estate sector to the forefront. The decision for next level infrastructure through Smart Cities and AMRUT will allow private real estate to contribute in a big manner. Housing for all by 2022 is another initiative that
will open the gates for huge demand in the realty sector of India.

In the last few weeks, we had a balanced Union Budget speech that focused firmly on affordable housing reforms with RERA’s passage in both houses recently. Now, smooth execution of all these announcements will rely heavily on the public sector front, where the concerned authorities and civic bodies can contribute by offering a timeless system for necessary approvals. Thus, single window clearance system has become the need of the hour with Real estate bill soon to be implemented and lot more which is in pipeline.

“Very soon we will have RERA becoming operational in India. But will it suffice the matter? Having a regulator on board is of utmost importance for transparency, but at the same time it will exert an undue pressure on the developers’ fraternity. Therefore, it now becomes even more imperative that Single window clearance system gets a green signal which will automatically allow developers to complete projects on time. With the Budget Session still long way from finish line, we are expecting its implementation soon”, shares Mr. Rupesh Gupta, Director, JM Housing.

Essence of this system
As the name suggests, it clearly means a platform where all the approvals can be obtained without facing the hassles of moving from place to place. There are over 50 mandatory clearances and approvals at present, which a developer needs to take from different authorities and public bodies in order to start and complete a project. The catch here is that it takes almost a year to gather all these approvals due to which, developers are unable to stick to the deadlines.

“A major cause of worry in the realty sector of our country has always been the delivery delays that occur due to untimely approval process. Single window clearance system will allow timely approval process which promises approvals in a months’ time. This will further allow developers’ to commence the construction process and complete the same on time which will let the rightful owners to get their units”, states Mr. Rakesh Yadav, Chairman, Antriksh India.

Putting more light on the topic, Mr. Ankit Aggarwal, CMD, Devika Group avers, “With the real estate bill on the last step with President’s signatures left, it will soon get implemented across the country. Now is the time when we realise the importance of single window clearance system as timely construction and delivery of the projects will largely depend on it. Major real estate markets in India are running behind schedule which will add on to the pressure for the developers when RERA becomes active. Thus, to avoid future barriers for the developers it is evident that this Budget Session passes the single window clearance system as well”.

How can it contribute?
Single window clearance system will make sure that developers get the essential approvals and clearances on time, under one roof. The time wasted on obtaining the clearances will now be put to use on timely construction of projects.

“Single window clearance system is of extreme significance in our realty sector. The government must ensure its passage in this very Budget Session so as to support the real estate bill. If approvals are attained timely, then no developer should default on the timelines and thus, the clarity over honest and dishonest bunch will be prominent. Somewhere, RERA might go incomplete if single window doesn’t get operational”, elucidates Mr. Rahul Chamola, MD, One Leaf Group.

Standing in sync and adding more weight on the same, Mr. VikasBhasin, MD, Saya Group suggests, “Single window clearance system is not only significant for the domestic market but to ensure greater inflow of FDI as well. There are lot of barriers in the Indian real estate business where untimely delivery is causing lot of demand concerns. This process will ensure developers to gain clearances and approvals in a specified time period which will allow them to develop and offer units on time. This will allow demand to catch up pace which will also help in clearing of unsold inventory.”

“RERA’s prime motive is to curb the corruption persisting in the Indian real estate sector and protect buyers’ interest. There are strict guidelines in the real estate bill against developers who are unable to deliver on time. But we cannot deny the fact that the developers today are under severe pain of not getting the obligatory clearances and approvals on time; and if this continuous then they’ll be axed for no reason. Thus, the government must ensure the passage of single window clearance system so as to allow the sector to work in a much systematic and organised manner, with full support for RERA as well”, concludes Mr. Sudeep Agrawal, MD, Shri Group.