BDA converts 580 residential plots from leasehold to freehold; is it your turn now?

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has made significant progress in its initiative to convert leasehold land to freehold land. As of now, the BDA has registered 580 conveyance deeds out of 867 applications submitted. At least 462 applications of these have been received so far online, sources said on Wednesday.

For those interested in applying online, applications can be submitted via the BDA’s website at https://bda.gov.in/ .

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According to official sources, in the first phase of this initiative, as many as 24 housing schemes were included for conversion. These schemes include Pokhariput Phases I, II, and III, Prachi Enclave plotted scheme in Chandrasekharpur, Lumbini Vihar housing scheme in Chandrasekharpur, Udayagiri Vihar in Patrapada, and Lingaraj Vihar in Bhimpur locality.

The BDA plans to include other housing schemes in a phased manner.

The conversion fee for residential land has been set at 3 per cent of the latest Benchmark Valuation of the Gharabari Kisam of land, as determined by the Registering Authority of the State government fixed for the year 2024.

The BDA has clarified that if a plot is mortgaged to a financial institution, the conversion will proceed only after obtaining a no-objection certificate from the institution. Applicants are also required to submit an affidavit stating that there are no ongoing civil disputes regarding the land. If legal disputes exist, the application for conversion will be reviewed only after the case is resolved and the final court order is provided.

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Applicants who have encroached on government land, public undertaking land, or BDA land within its jurisdiction are excluded from the scheme unless they first vacate the encroached land. An affidavit confirming the absence of any such encroachment must be submitted.

Allottees who have constructed a house on the allotted plot and have been in possession of it for more than five years are eligible to apply for freehold status. Additionally, a lease deed must have been executed with the BDA before applying for freehold conversion.