Online Real Estate Sales: Boosting Biz & Consumer Ease

New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) Real estate developers should focus on online marketing of properties to boost their sales and help consumers in faster decision making, said Durga Shankar Mishra, former secretary in the Housing and Urban Affairs ministry.

Addressing a real estate conference organised by Assocham, he said, "Today, it is the time of e-commerce. Why there cannot be e-commerce in real estate."

Mishra, the former Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh government, asked the developers to use technologies for ease of doing business for prospective property buyers.

He said the adoption of technologies would not lead to be much increase in the project cost, rather it would enhance sales.

Mishra said the real estate sector should strive to do marketing like hotel industry where people can book rooms on e-commerce platforms.

Realtors should ensure that prospective property owners do not have to undertake physical visit more than once, he said, adding that technologies should help the customers in short listing of properties.

The former secretary noted that the real estate sector has benefited a lot from the enactment of RERA law as well as stress fund 'SWAMIH'.

Mishra stressed the need for making land available for real estate development and advocated for effective implementation of land pooling policy.


He emphasised on the critical role of the real estate sector in shaping India's urban and economic future.

The size of the real estate market is estimated to touch USD 1 trillion by 2030, Mishra said.

He underscored that the real estate sector currently contributes around 13 per cent to the Indian economy.

"Urbanisation is not a challenge but an opportunity to transform our cities into vibrant, sustainable hubs of growth," Mishra said.

Gurjeet Singh Dhillon, Director (AMRUT), the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, elaborated on the transformational goals of the AMRUT mission.

"The AMRUT mission's priority has always been to bring transformative change in urban infrastructure, grounded in sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term service delivery. We are not merely building infrastructure; we are enabling cities to become engines of economic growth and social equity," he said.

Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser (DMA/Urban/R&N), NITI Aayog, shared a future-focused perspective during her special address.

"From enabling robust digital public infrastructure to promoting green transitions and urban innovation, our aim is to ensure holistic economic progress. Initiatives like Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), municipal finance reforms, and capacity building at the grassroots level are crucial for creating sustainable, liveable urban ecosystems," Roy said.