The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has decided to grant partial occupancy and completion certificates to developers who have made advance payments under the Uttar Pradesh government’s rehabilitation policy for stalled projects. The decision, issued is expected to bring immediate relief to thousands of homebuyers awaiting possession and to developers struggling to complete projects stuck in financial or regulatory gridlock.
According to the new order, developers who have already deposited 25% of their recalculated dues, including the two-year zero period granted for the Covid pandemic—and made further payments towards the remaining 75%, will now be eligible to receive certificates in direct proportion to the amount paid.
In effect, if a developer has paid 40% of total dues, certificates will be issued for 40% of the project’s units. The move is designed to unlock possession for homebuyers whose flats are ready but held up due to procedural delays.
The order, which follows the Authority’s 140th board meeting held in July, addresses one of the most persistent challenges in NCR’s real estate ecosystem. Previously, under the state government’s rehabilitation policy notified in December 2023, developers were required to pay 25% of their recalculated dues upfront and the remainder in instalments. Once the initial payment was made, they received a no dues certificate (NDC)—allowing them to resume construction and apply for completion.
However, when applying for occupancy or completion certificates, developers faced lengthy delays in securing no-objection certificates (NOCs) from multiple departments, including fire safety, environment, water, electricity, planning, and architecture. The process often stretched beyond six months, during which deadlines for subsequent instalments lapsed—rendering NDCs invalid.
As a result, planning departments demanded fresh NDCs to process occupancy applications. But without full payment of instalments, new NDCs could not be issued, stalling project completions and home deliveries, even when construction was nearly complete and most dues were paid.
The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) NCR and Western UP chapters had been urging the Authority to address this issue.
In a letter dated May 25, CREDAI Western UP president Dinesh Gupta highlighted that developers who had already paid 25% of their dues and completed pending construction were being prevented from obtaining occupancy approvals because fresh NDCs were denied until full payments were made.
“Non-issuance of new NDCs has blocked the registration of tripartite sub-lease deeds and delayed legal possession for homebuyers,” Gupta wrote. “Allowing proportional occupancy will help both buyers and developers, and boost revenue for the Authority.”
The association also warned that such delays were eroding buyer confidence and affecting future investments in the Noida-Greater Noida region. CREDAI further suggested issuing provisional OCs valid for 90–120 days, enabling developers to raise funds from homebuyers for clearing remaining dues.
Officials at GNIDA said the decision strikes a balance between supporting developers and protecting the Authority’s financial interests.
“By linking occupancy rights directly to the percentage of dues paid, we are ensuring accountability while expediting delivery of homes,” according to officials. “This will help unlock thousands of completed or near-finished apartments that have been stuck for procedural reasons.”
The move is expected to accelerate housing delivery, restore market sentiment, and revive investor confidence across the Greater Noida region, which has seen a surge in project revival efforts over the past year. Detailed operational guidelines for implementing the proportional certification system are expected to be released shortly.
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