Pune: The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) on Friday paved the way for a four-month extension for thousands of housing projects across the country.The ministry has advised all state Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERA), including MahaRERA, to extend the registration and completion timelines for projects whose original or revised completion dates fall on or after Feb 28, 2026.This relief is linked to global supply chain disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has led to significant shortages of construction materials. The advisory allows eligible projects up to four additional months to complete construction.In its communication to state RERA chairpersons, MoHUA noted that it had received numerous representations from stakeholders highlighting how the geopolitical situation has hindered construction activity. “The advisory has been sent to all state authorities, including MahaRERA. They are expected to issue orders accordingly,” a central govt official stated.The ministry cited a Union finance ministry memorandum dated April 29, 2026, which classified the situation in West Asia as a “war” for the purpose of invoking the force majeure (unforeseen circumstances) clause. Under Section 6 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, RERA can extend project registrations in cases of force majeure. Section 7(3) empowers authorities to keep a project’s registration in force under specific conditions instead of revoking it.To ensure uniform implementation and reduce the administrative burden on both developers and regulators, MoHUA recommended that state RERAs issue a “common order” for extensions. This would eliminate the need for individual developers to submit separate applications for every project.A similar approach was adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic when blanket extensions were granted after the outbreak was declared a force majeure event. Developers in Maharashtra now expect MahaRERA to issue a similar notification for all eligible projects in the state.Hitesh Thakkar, vice-president, National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), Maharashtra, welcomed the move, calling it a major respite for the industry. “The MoHUA advisory is a timely and progressive decision that provides much-needed relief in view of extraordinary global supply chain disruptions. We are grateful to the ministry and the state govt for their pragmatic approach to addressing the industry’s genuine concerns,” Thakkar said.He added that NAREDCO’s sustained efforts in representing the sector’s challenges led to this significant development. “We are confident that MahaRERA will issue a common order at the earliest. This initiative will not only facilitate timely project completion but also reinforce the confidence of homebuyers and developers alike,” he noted.The ministry emphasised that a common order would streamline the process, ensuring that delays caused by circumstances beyond a developer’s control are addressed consistently across all states.
