'Tareekh Pe Tareekh': 100% complete, still no keys; Inside RERA’s extension loop
An investigation into Maharashtra's RERA housing market reveals that many delayed projects are granted multiple extensions, creating a cycle of 'tareekh pe tareekh' (date after date). Data shows that over 27% of projects in abeyance have received at least one extension, raising questions about the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.
Why it matters
It exposes systemic issues in real estate regulation that leave homebuyers in limbo, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in project completion timelines.
A housing project misses its promised completion date. The developer asks for more time. The regulator grants it. There is nothing extraordinary about that sequence. Construction can be held up for many reasons, some of them outside a developer's control. Sometimes a few more months are exactly what a project needs to get buyers their homes. The difficulty begins when the wait becomes tareekh pe tareekh.The question is simple. When a delayed project is given more time, how often does that extra time actually result in completion? There is no national public number that answers it.TOI tried to get closer to one by examining Maharashtra, one of the country's largest RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) markets. It analysed 4,237 registrations appearing on MahaRERA's list of projects kept in abeyance after their completion dates had lapsed, as the list stood on Sept 10, 2026.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in