Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The construction of the “Urban Majestic Apartment” in Patia, Bhubaneswar, has been ordered to cease immediately by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). On January 2, 2024, the civic board first approved the development proposal for M/s “Paltronics Allied Industries Pvt. Ltd.” to construct a multistory residential complex on plot no. 309/1694, Khata no. 474/5, under mouza Patia. However, the Commissioner of BMC ordered the work to stop after receiving a letter from the Government of Odisha’s GA & PG Department. The Tahsildar of Bhubaneswar was also instructed by the GA & PG Department to remove Sthitiban from the Record of Rights (ROR) in Pattadar status.¹
Originally leased for industrial use, the site in question underwent an unlawful conversion to kisam. The BMC Commissioner acted right away, giving the planning division instructions to revoke the planning approval pending a judgment from the appropriate authority.
Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil stressed that construction on disputed land cannot be permitted once notice is given, as per the planning guidelines, which state that “In case of any dispute arising out of land record or in respect of title, interest after the permission is granted, the permission so granted shall be treated as automatically cancelled during the period of dispute.” Following the BMC’s directive, the construction, which was occupying five acres of land with six residential buildings, has been stopped. If the agency disregards the directive, the BMC will take severe measures, such as closing the venue or sending out law enforcement officers if required.
