Written by Ai Powered PMC Akbar Jiwani.Special Correspondent:
Mumbai: Maharashtra’s real estate regulator, MahaRERA, has issued registration numbers to 435 new housing projects on the occasion of Dussehra, in a move aimed at giving developers regulatory backing just as the country’s biggest homebuying season gets under way. The projects are estimated to involve an investment of about Rs 23,719 crore and will bring roughly 32,981 flats to the market across Maharashtra, according to reports published on 23 October 2026.
Mumbai region leads the approvals
Of the 435 new registrations, 201 are in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Thane accounts for 70 projects and Mumbai city and suburbs for 63, followed by Raigad with 36 and Palghar with 25. Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg have 5 and 2 projects respectively.
Pune region follows with 140 registrations, including Satara (13), Kolhapur (8), Sangli (3) and Solapur (3). Vidarbha has 32 projects, led by Nagpur with 27, along with Amravati (4) and Akola (1). Khandesh has 24 projects and Nashik 23, showing that new supply is spreading beyond the two metros into Tier-2 and Tier-3 centres.
Extensions and corrections
Alongside the new registrations, MahaRERA approved deadline extensions for 210 projects and corrections for 609 projects. The regulator has cautioned that projects without an approved extension may be classified as lapsed, a warning that underlines its push for timely delivery and compliance. Officials said the approvals enable developers to proceed with their projects with regulatory backing.
Between April and September 2026, MahaRERA approved 6,486 applications, comprising 2,056 new registrations, 2,053 extensions and 2,377 corrections, according to the figures reported.
Why it matters for homebuyers
A registration number under RERA is the key legal safeguard for buyers: it ensures project details, timelines and escrow requirements are on record with the regulator. For buyers planning purchases during Navratri, Durga Puja and Diwali, registered projects offer greater transparency and recourse. Buyers are advised to verify a project’s RERA registration and extension status on the MahaRERA website before booking.
Market backdrop
The approvals come at a time of healthy demand but rising costs. Anarock data released on 1 October 2026 showed housing sales in India’s top seven cities rose about 3 per cent year on year to roughly 100,220 units in July-September 2026, with sales value around Rs 1.55 lakh crore and average prices up about 7 per cent. New launches jumped about 18 per cent to roughly 114,320 units. MMR sales rose 5 per cent to 31,750 units, and MMR and Bengaluru together accounted for 48 per cent of total sales. Launches growing faster than sales is a trend worth watching, as it could add to unsold stock if demand cools.
On 7 October 2026, the Reserve Bank of India raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50 per cent, its first hike since February 2023. CREDAI president Shekhar Patel said borrowing costs could affect festive-season sales but that underlying housing demand remains strong. Industry voices have noted that affordable and first-time buyer segments are more sensitive to higher home loan rates, and that developers may respond with flexible payment plans and festive incentives.
The bottom line
The fresh MahaRERA clearances add substantial new supply to one of India’s largest housing markets at a crucial moment. How far buyers respond over the Diwali period, against the backdrop of a higher interest rate, will be the key test for the sector in the coming weeks.
