The Government of Odisha has appointed Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, as the interim Chairperson of the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA). This move comes at a crucial juncture following the retirement of all previous members of the Authority, rendering it temporarily non-functional.

An official notification released by the Housing and Urban Development Department confirmed the appointment. The decision has been made under the authority granted by the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. As per the government order, “In exercise of the powers conferred by the third proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 20 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (Act 16 of 2016), the State Government hereby designates the Principal Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, as the Regulatory Authority for the purposes of the said Act until further orders.”

The appointment ensures continuity in the functioning of ORERA, which had come to a standstill following the retirement of its last remaining member, Pradeep Biswal, on May 2. Earlier, the acting Chairperson, Gopal Chandra Patnaik, had retired on April 27, and the full-time Chairperson, Siddhanta Das, had exited the position in February. With all key positions vacant, there was concern over ORERA’s ability to serve the interests of homebuyers and regulate real estate activities in the state.

By assigning the additional responsibility to Padhee, the state government aims to maintain essential operations and oversight until a full-time chairperson is officially appointed. According to department sources, the selection process for the new Chairperson and members has already been completed by the designated committee, and the file is currently awaiting approval at the Chief Minister’s Office.

Established under the RERA Act to bring transparency and accountability to the real estate sector, ORERA plays a pivotal role in safeguarding consumer rights. The Authority regulates property developers and real estate agents, facilitates registration of real estate projects, and ensures timely grievance redressal for homebuyers.

Stakeholders have welcomed the move. A local resident from Patia, Debadutta Nayak, said, “ORERA has significantly contributed to protecting the interests of homebuyers. People have begun to place their trust in the Authority, and it has helped curb malpractices in the real estate sector.”

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With Padhee at the helm in an interim capacity, it is expected that the Authority will continue its vital regulatory duties and protect the rights of consumers across the state, until the permanent leadership is formally installed.

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