Bhubaneswar, May 15 -- Odishagovernment moved to eliminate the legal and financial hurdles faced by thousands of flat owners by notifying a landmark ordinance on Thursday.

According to Times Of India, by amending the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, the state introduced a simplified fee structure that removes the heavy financial burden previously placed on apartment owners' associations during the registration of shared infrastructure.

The most significant shift in policy is the introduction of a nominal, flat-rate stamp duty of Rs 50,000 for the transfer of common areas. Under the previous framework, associations were required to pay 5 per cent of the property value to register corridors, community spaces, and lifts, a cost that often proved pr...