Odisha Govt Initiates Process To Convert Leasehold Properties To Freehold In Twin Cities

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has initiated the process for easy conversion of leasehold lands to freehold plots in cities like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Chairing a high-level meeting here, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra directed for decentralisation of power and has asked development authorities and State Housing Board to place a proposal in this regard for approval within a week. “The decentralization of power will be beneficial for landholders to convert the leasehold plots to freehold easily,” an official said.

Mahapatra also directed officials to resolve the issues of people, who have been provided houses at Chandrama Housing Complex in the city within a month.

It is worth mentioning here that the General Administration & Public Grievance department has leased out 1,105 acres to Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Odisha State Housing Board for implementing 37 and 44 housing schemes respectively at different places in capital city.

Similarly, several acres of government land have been leased out to  Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) for housing schemes through the Revenue & Disaster Management and Housing and Urban Development departments.

Decentralization of land conversion power towards the BDA and CDA is likely to benefit over 50,000 families in the twin cities, sources said.