Ghaziabad: A supply-chain crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia has forced the Centre to grant a four-month extension to delayed housing projects, shielding developers from penalties under Rera. The relief applies to projects across the country that were due for completion on or after Feb 28 this year.In UP, the move is expected to benefit 1,199 ongoing projects, including 301 in Noida and 148 in Ghaziabad. Invoking Section 6 of Rera Act, the ministry of housing and urban affairs said the West Asia crisis should be treated as a “force majeure” event akin to war, allowing project registrations to be extended without penal consequences. Under normal circumstances, developers must apply for such extensions individually.A UP-Rera official said the benefit would be granted automatically. “Since the ministry has directed a four-month extension for eligible projects, developers will not have to apply separately. The revised completion dates will be updated automatically,” the official said.The order comes after Credai — an association of developers — and other industry stakeholders urged the Centre to intervene, arguing that the conflict had severely disrupted supplies of essential construction materials, pushed up costs and slowed work across projects.Under Rera, developers who fail to meet possession deadlines can face interest liabilities, penalties of up to 5% of the project cost and refund claims from homebuyers. The extension provides temporary relief from those consequences where delays result from the global crisis rather than project mismanagement.Credai (western UP) president Dinesh Gupta called the decision “a timely and pragmatic intervention”. “The disruption in global supply chains has caused shortages of key construction materials, escalated input costs and delayed project execution. The advisory will help developers manage these unprecedented challenges while protecting the interests of both developers and homebuyers,” he said.Geetanjali Khanna, managing director of Rearco Pvt Ltd, insisted that rising material prices and a shortage of construction workers had compounded delays. “The Centre’s decision to grant additional time recognises the extraordinary challenges faced by the sector and offers much-needed relief,” she said.Developer Manoj Gaur also said the conflict had affected the supply of nearly 250 products used in construction, including copper, aluminium and petroleum-based materials. He cited the example of the tile industry in Gujarat’s Morbi, where production depends heavily on gas and oil.“If tiles are delayed, flooring stops. Without flooring, fittings cannot begin. Construction follows a sequence, and disruption at one stage brings the entire project to a halt,” he added.
