Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) has urged the state govt to grant it financial and administrative autonomy, citing operational bottlenecks that are impacting its ability to function effectively. The move follows a recent communication from the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, which has advised the states to strengthen the capacity and autonomy of their respective real estate authorities.ORERA, in its letter to the state govt sent earlier this month, had flagged that the lack of independent financial powers has left it dependent on govt approvals for critical decisions, including recruitment of staff and disbursal of salaries.Officials said that despite being a statutory body, ORERA does not enjoy full autonomy in managing its finances or administrative affairs, unlike in several other states where real estate regulators operate with greater independence.ORERA currently requires govt approval for manpower hiring and disposal of cases. Salary disbursal and routine financial decisions are not fully under its control, impacting day-to-day functioning, officials said.“Limited financial autonomy restricts the authority’s ability to scale up operations in response to increasing complaints and regulatory workload,” ORERA chairman Asit Mohapatra said, adding that the govt has called for a meeting on June 24 to discuss the issue.Sources indicated that Odisha remains among a handful of states where the real estate regulator continues to be dependent on the state govt for such administrative and financial approvals.The ministry letter has emphasised the need for strengthening the institutional capacity of Real Estate Regulatory Authorities across states, including ensuring adequate staffing and financial independence for effective implementation of the RERA Act.The ministry noted that delays in staffing and limited autonomy can weaken regulatory oversight, slow down grievance redressal in the real estate sector and also undermine consumer confidence in the sector.Experts say granting autonomy to ORERA could significantly improve efficiency in handling complaints, project registrations and enforcement actions. They stressed the need to look into the matter at the earliest.“A regulator needs operational independence to respond quickly to market developments and consumer grievances. Delays in staffing or financial decisions can dilute its effectiveness,” real estate expert Bimalendu Pradhan said.Homebuyers and developers, too, stand to benefit from faster decision-making and improved service delivery if ORERA is allowed to function independently. “A body like RERA should act independently,” Sangram Nayak, a city-based developer, said.