MahaRera cracks down on 628 housing projects for ad violations

Nagpur: The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRera) has acted against 628 housing project owners across the state for failing to display the mandatory registration number and QR code in their advertising materials. This action has resulted in penalties totaling Rs 88.90 lakh, with Rs 72.35 lakh already recovered.
Among the 628 projects penalized, 66 are from the Nagpur region, which encompasses all the districts of Vidarbha.These projects faced penalties amounting to Rs 6.35 lakh, of which Rs 6.10 lakh has been recovered so far from the region, according to MahaRera media advisor Ram Dotonde.

The Nagpur region’s violations are part of a broader crackdown that also includes 312 projects from the Mumbai region, with penalties totaling Rs 54.25 lakh, of which Rs 41.50 lakh recovered. Additionally, 250 projects from the Pune region were fined Rs 28.30 lakh and Rs 24.75 lakh have been recovered.
“MahaRera, with assistance from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), is actively monitoring all media formats to identify and penalize violators. This collaboration leverages artificial intelligence to scrutinize advertisements across newspapers, websites, online video streaming channels, and social media. The violations are notably higher on social media compared to traditional advertising mediums,” he said.
To safeguard investments, MahaRera has appealed to homebuyers to avoid transactions with housing projects that lack a RERA registration number. As per the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, it is binding for any project in Maharashtra that exceeds 500 square meters or involves more than eight apartments (including plots) to be registered with MahaRera. No marketing activities or sales in such housing projects are permitted without securing registration number from the MahaRera.
MahaRera chairman Ajoy Mehta said the promoters of housing projects are not permitted to advertise their projects without a MahaRERA registration number. “Starting August 1, 2023, it is also mandatory to display QR code with every advertisement. This enables homebuyers to access project related important information. Despite this, some developers are violating these guidelines. Therefore, MahaRERA is always on the lookout for such advertisements and regularly initiates action against the violators of set norms,” he said.
According to Mehta, having MahaRera registration number is synonymous to secure investment in real estate as it instils a sense of trust among flat purchasers.
“Post QR code success in Maharashtra, housing regulatory authorities in other states have also made it mandatory. MahaRera’s commitment to maintain the trust continues and it will not tolerate marketing content without a registration number as well as QR code. MahaRera will continue taking punitive action against the violators,” said Mehta.