The Andhra Pradesh government has appointed Amaravati Joint Action Committee (JAC) leader A Siva Reddy as the new Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (AP-RERA). The appointment comes at a crucial time when the state’s real estate sector is witnessing rapid growth and increasing investor interest, particularly around the capital region of Amaravati.
A Leader with Experience in Real Estate and Public Service
Siva Reddy previously served as the President of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), Andhra Pradesh chapter. In 2020, he resigned from that role to dedicate himself to the Amaravati capital city movement during the previous YSRCP regime.
He was a prominent face in the farmers’ agitation demanding that Amaravati be declared the state’s single capital, advocating for the rights of local farmers and development of the region.
The appointment of Siva Reddy reflects the government’s intent to bring in leadership with both industry experience and a strong public mandate to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the state’s real estate sector.
Strengthening RERA in Andhra Pradesh
The state government is expected to appoint additional members to the AP-RERA board shortly. Currently, the authority has only three directors who were appointed during the previous YSRCP regime. As per the RERA framework, the government can appoint up to seven more members in addition to the chairperson.
Officials stated that the government aims to strengthen the RERA mechanism in light of the surge in real estate activity across the state, particularly in urban clusters and emerging townships.
Focus on Transparency and Consumer Protection
Speaking after his appointment, Siva Reddy emphasized that ensuring transparency and efficiency in the real estate sector will be his top priority.
“AP-RERA will work to protect the interests of consumers in the real estate sector by ensuring that all transactions related to plots, apartments, and projects are governed transparently. We aim to establish a robust adjudicating mechanism for speedy dispute redressal,” he said.
Siva Reddy noted that any individual can approach AP-RERA for grievance redressal against builders or developers. The authority functions as a statutory regulator for both residential and commercial real estate transactions under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.
Mandatory Project Registration and Strict Penalties
Under the RERA Act, all real estate developers are required to register projects measuring more than 500 square metres or consisting of more than eight apartments with the regulatory authority.
Developers must disclose detailed information such as project layouts, government approvals, land title status, sub-contractors, and timelines for project completion on the AP-RERA portal.
Siva Reddy said that any changes to the approved project plan without the buyer’s written consent are strictly prohibited. He further explained that delays in project completion make the developer liable to pay the same rate of interest to the buyer as the EMI interest paid to banks.
Violations of RERA orders or appellate tribunal rulings can lead to imprisonment of up to three years and additional fines, reinforcing the strict compliance environment envisioned under the RERA Act.
A Strong Step Toward Regulated Growth
Siva Reddy’s appointment signals a renewed focus on building trust and discipline in Andhra Pradesh’s real estate ecosystem. With his dual background in real estate development and public activism, he is expected to steer AP-RERA toward transparent governance, improved buyer confidence, and balanced sectoral growth.
