​The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has initiated a comprehensive verification drive targeting 3,699 lapsed housing projects across the state. This action follows the submission of Occupation Certificates (OCs) by developers claiming project completion, amid concerns over potential document forgery.​

Verification Mandate: MahaRERA has directed planning authorities to authenticate the OCs uploaded by developers for these lapsed projects. Authorities are required to confirm the validity of these certificates within a 10-day window.

Implications of Non-Response: Should a planning authority fail to respond within the stipulated timeframe, MahaRERA will consider the submitted OC as genuine and mark the project as completed. However, any discrepancies identified later will render the respective planning authority accountable.

Regional Distribution: The 3,699 projects under scrutiny are distributed as follows:

• Mumbai Metropolitan Region: 1,819 projects
• Pune Region: 1,223 projects
• Nashik Region: 273 projects
• Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Region: 132 projects
• Amravati Region: 84 projects
• Nagpur Region: 168 projects

Background Context: This verification initiative was prompted by incidents of fraudulent construction documents, notably in the Kalyan-Dombivli area, where developers submitted fake OCs to MahaRERA.

This proactive measure by MahaRERA underscores its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the real estate sector, safeguarding the interests of homebuyers and maintaining the integrity of housing projects across Maharashtra.​

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