For years, buying or selling a small piece of a larger plot of land in Odisha, especially around Bhubaneswar, has been a major headache. It has been stressful and complicated. But that's about to change, as the state government is bringing in new regulations and simpler rules for "part plots" (also known as sub-plots), promising to ease the burden on landowners and boost the state's revenue. This is great news for people who were stuck, unable to build on or sell their legally-owned land.
The "Part Plot" Problem
Since 2021, buying and selling sub-plots – essentially, dividing a larger piece of land into smaller, individual plots – has been incredibly difficult in urban areas. The rules required approval from development authorities. This created a situation where many people owned land with proper documentation, but couldn't build on it, sell it, or even use it as collateral for loans. This often led to frustrating situations, even when families needed to sell land for urgent needs like medical expenses, a daughter's wedding, or a child's education. Imagine owning a piece of land, but being unable to do anything with it, even in times of dire need. That's the reality many faced, people ran from pillar to post, frequenting Tehsil and Sub-Registrar offices, hoping for a solution, asking when the new rules would finally arrive.
New Rules, New Hope
Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari has confirmed that simpler regulations for part-plot registration are coming very soon, potentially within this month. A draft of the new rules has been finalized after considering all necessary aspects and respective stakeholders.
The new system promises to streamline the process. Crucially, there will be clear guidelines on how much land must be reserved for roads when a plot is subdivided, ensuring proper planning and access. There will also be provisions addressing issues with apartment sales.
This change isn't just about making life easier for landowners; it also benefits the government. The restrictions on sub-plot sales had significantly reduced revenue from stamp duty and registration fees. In the 2024-25 financial year (up to December), the government collected ₹1499 crore, falling short of its ₹2417 crore target. This was lower than the ₹1513 crore collected in the same period of the previous year, and part-plot restrictions were identified as a major contributing factor.
Minister Pujari provided a sneak peek into further reforms, announcing that upcoming regulations will also address plot schemes and apartment-related issues. The focus will not only facilitate sale and purchase but also ensure that no one can engage in fraudulent activities.
The problem of sub-plotting has been brewing since previous government, and hopes are high that the new government is working at a fast pace to fix this issue. The Housing and Urban Development department and Revenue department have held multiple discussions on the issue, to finalise the draft regulations.
A Win-Win Solution
The upcoming changes are a win-win with a relief to ordinary citizens who have been in a catch 22 situation due to complex regulations, and this will allow the government to to increase the revenue through stamp duty.
