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The Odisha government has introduced new guidelines for converting residential leasehold properties to freehold status. Owners with approved or slightly altered building plans will now pay a 3% fee on the property's benchmark market value (BMV) for full rights. Properties with major plan deviations must first be regularised and receive compliance certification from BMC or BDA. The move aims to simplify the process and ensure clarity in urban governance. Additional reforms include easier plot subdivisions for families, relaxed fire safety norms for older buildings, and more transparent land allotments. These steps are expected to enhance legal property ownership and boost urban planning standards.
The Odisha government has rolled out a new set of guidelines governing conversion charges for residential leasehold properties. Under the revised policy, property owners whose structures conform to sanctioned building plans or feature only minor permissible deviations will now be required to pay a conversion fee of 3 percent of the benchmark market value (BMV) to secure full freehold rights. Advertisement
In cases where buildings have been constructed with significant deviations from approved plans, conversion will only be allowed once the property has been regularised. The government has clarified that applicants must also obtain a compliance certificate from either the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) or the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). This certificate will confirm whether the construction adheres to approved designs or qualifies under the permissible limits of deviation.
The decision was taken in a recent cabinet meeting chaired by the chief secretary, where the new rules were formally approved and later notified by the General Administration and Public Grievance department. Officials explained that the aim is to bring consistency and clarity to the conversion process, which has often been mired in confusion due to vague or outdated fee structures.
These updated guidelines are in step with Odisha's ongoing efforts to improve urban governance. In the past week, the state government also notified changes to urban development regulations, allowing easier subdivision of plots up to 500 square metres, especially for familial inheritance and agricultural use. These changes exempt such properties from layout plan approvals and simplify associated fees, provided they are solely for agricultural activity or family division.
Further easing the regulatory burden, the state has also streamlined fire safety approvals for buildings constructed before the implementation of updated safety norms. In another progressive move, Odisha has also introduced policies to enhance transparency in land allotment by various development authorities.
Experts in the real estate sector have welcomed the conversion fee reforms, stating that this will not only curb unauthorised constructions but also promote better planning and legal compliance across residential zones. By coupling these changes with reforms in urban infrastructure and planning, the state is aiming to improve its urban housing ecosystem while encouraging lawful property ownership.
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