Pune Builders Owe Rs 219 Crore to Homebuyers: State Pushes for Faster MahaRERA Recovery with 12 New Officers

Pune, 27th April 2025: In a major relief for homebuyers across Maharashtra, the state government has appointed 12 dedicated recovery officers to speed up the execution of recovery warrants issued by the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) against defaulting developers.

The decision comes after persistent demands from aggrieved homebuyers and MahaRERA officials for quicker enforcement. According to officials, two recovery officers each have been deployed in Pune, Mumbai Suburban, Mumbai City, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad districts — regions that collectively account for over 75% of the total recovery warrants issued statewide.

MahaRERA has so far issued 1,342 recovery warrants across Maharashtra. However, due to slow implementation — partly attributed to last year’s elections — only 306 warrants had been executed until recently. With the appointment of dedicated officers, authorities expect a considerable improvement in recovery rates.

Under Section 40(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, authorities are empowered to recover dues by attaching the assets of defaulting builders. MahaRERA data reveals that of the Rs 980.39 crore owed to homebuyers, only Rs 209.22 crore — around 21% — has been recovered so far. Developers still owe a staggering Rs 771.17 crore to buyers across the state.

Mumbai Suburban district has the highest number of unresolved cases, with 540 complaints linked to Rs 424.79 crore in pending dues. Out of this, Rs 80.49 crore has been recovered. Pune ranks second, with 274 cases involving Rs 219.71 crore, of which Rs 42.31 crore has been recovered.

The state government’s order, dated April 22, designates district collectors in these six high-burden districts as coordination officers. Each district will also have two additional collectors functioning specifically as recovery officers to expedite the process.

For many homebuyers, the move brings cautious optimism after prolonged delays. Authorities believe that with focused teams now in place, enforcement will be faster and more effective.