CREDAI West Bengal has backed the state government's ongoing efforts to tighten building safety and regulatory compliance in the real estate sector, while seeking additional time for projects affected by the mandatory audit and other disruptions. 
CREDAI West Bengal president Sushil Mohta said the association has requested an eight-month force majeure period for project approvals and completion validity. The request has been made in view of disruptions caused by the war, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), elections and the stop-work period imposed on projects covered by the mandatory audit. 
The mandatory audit was initiated after a warehouse collapsed in Taratala, Kolkata, in June. Construction activity on projects included in the exercise was stopped while the authorities carried out scrutiny of their compliance and structural requirements. 
According to the latest figures shared by CREDAI, scrutiny of 585 of the 706 projects identified for the audit has been completed. A total of 595 projects have submitted applications, while 115 are yet to apply. So far, 204 projects have received clearance, 89 have been given conditional permission to proceed and 26 projects have been found to have major violations. 
CREDAI officials said the figures were updated as of the previous Saturday. The technical committee overseeing the audit has held eight meetings to review the projects and their compliance status. 
Mohta said the association supports the proposed SOP as it could provide a clearer process for building safety and regulatory compliance. CREDAI has also sought an eight-month extension of the validity of approvals and project completion periods to account for the time lost during the disruption. 
The developers' body has suggested that time-bound undertakings could be allowed in cases involving minor deviations. According to CREDAI, such a mechanism could allow construction to restart in eligible cases while giving developers a defined period to complete the required compliance. The association has also assured the government of its cooperation in completing the scrutiny of pending projects. 
CREDAI has supported strict action against illegal and unauthorised construction. It also clarified that the 27 illegal projects recently identified during the government's special audit did not involve any of its members. The association said it does not admit builders who do not meet its compliance requirements. 
CREDAI Kolkata's immediate past president Sidharth Pansari said action against illegal and unauthorised construction would help distinguish compliant developers from those operating outside the regulatory framework. He added that greater scrutiny could also help homebuyers make better-informed decisions before investing in a property. 
CREDAI Kolkata president Apurva Salarpuria said the government's approach could help construction activity resume in projects that meet the required conditions. A restart of work would also support the wider construction supply chain and the workforce dependent on the sector, while helping restore confidence among investors and other stakeholders. 
The association reiterated that compliance with the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, or RERA, remains mandatory. It advised homebuyers to check the credentials of developers and purchase properties that are registered under the applicable real estate regulatory framework. 
West Bengal's real estate sector attracts more than INR 20,000 crore in annual investment, contributes around INR 7,500 crore to the state exchequer and supports the livelihoods of about 60 lakh people, according to CREDAI. The association considers real estate to be the state's second-largest employer after agriculture. 
The industry's concerns were discussed during a government-convened conference in Kolkata, where a CREDAI delegation met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul, Industries Minister Tapas Roy and senior government officials. The meeting focused on the regulatory issues facing developers and the steps needed to improve compliance and restart affected construction activity. 
The proposed SOP is therefore expected to be important in determining how projects with minor compliance issues are dealt with, while projects involving major violations continue to face scrutiny. For homebuyers, the ongoing exercise also underlines the need to check project registration, approvals and developer credentials before committing to a property. 
Source PTI