Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a stop-construction order to the builder of a housing project in Nandan Vihar following a series of complaints by the residents’ welfare association.The residents had filed complaints of unauthorised expansion, violation of ORERA norms and neglect of key infrastructure commitments by the developer. Officials said the order was issued on Friday after a preliminary check revealed that construction activities for the expansion block were underway despite the violations.A senior BMC official said inspectors have been directed to maintain surveillance at the site and ensure the order is strictly enforced. “Based on the grievances received and prima facie violations of approved building norms, we have directed the developer to halt all ongoing construction work until further examination,” the official said.The residents have flagged multiple violations by the builder in the project, including lack of mandatory permissions and commencement of work even after ORERA rejected the builder’s application for project registration in Jan for not complying with certain norms prescribed by RERA.In a letter to housing and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, the residents complained that the builder had begun excavation and structural work for additional high-rise blocks without obtaining the mandatory two-thirds consent of existing allottees.The BMC’s intervention follows mounting pressure from residents, who have highlighted the violations, ranging from non-submission of the mandatory Form D, non-refund of security deposits and sinking funds, to failure in completing basic pending works like rainwater drainage, structural repairs and handover of the electrical substation to TPCODL.Residents said the trigger for the civic body’s move was the documented proof of active site work using excavators and machinery. “Despite ORERA rejecting the expansion, the builder continued digging and preparing foundations. We had no choice but to escalate the matter,” Dilip Rout, secretary of the residents’ association, said.The association has also accused the builder of violating parking norms specified in the original 2017 BDA approval, which mandated 20% of the total parking area to be earmarked for visitor parking, something the builder allegedly failed to provide. With the stop-work order now in force, residents hope that stricter action will follow.The association has demanded that BDA initiate proceedings under Section 26(1) of the Odisha Apartment (Ownership and Management) Act, 2023, by taking punitive action against the developer for continuing work without approvals and for failing to submit Form D despite repeated reminders.
