Bhubaneswar, Oct. 6: The development authority today initiated its first-ever online auction process for allotting free-hold plots in the city ending its earlier practice of allotting such plots through a lottery system.

The development authority will auction 22 plots - 10 in Jayadev Vihar and 12 in Chandrasekharpur - on November 15 where interested buyers can take part after obtaining a user identity and a password from the authority.

Brochures for the plots will be available at the headquarters of development authority for a month from today.

Sources said the online auction of plots would ensure transparency in the process. Auction of the 22 plots would be the second event following the online auction of ready-to-move houses at Ananta Vihar on September 28 last year.

'We want transparency in the system and the online auction is helping in the efforts,' said BDA vice-chairman Krishan Kumar.

A BDA official said after buying the brochure, the interested buyer would get a unique authentication number following a digital signature certificate. 'Using the ID and the password, one can take part in the auction. The participation fees is Rs 2,000,' he said.

To make the auctioning process hassle-free, the development authority has also uploaded a bidder's manual on their website from where the bidders would get tips. They can also talk to the allotment officials and experts from the IT firm looking after the e-auction process.

Jayadev Vihar and Chandrasekharpur are among the most sought-after localities of the city. While the availability of land and the location of the plots excite many, the high property prices remain a deterrent for some buyers.

The price of the plots at Jayadev Vihar ranges from Rs 74 lakh to Rs 1.29 crore, the same at Chandrasekharpur ranges between Rs 61 lakh and Rs 1.25 crore. Sources said the prices were likely to climb since the plots would be auctioned and the highest bidder would get the plot.

'I was going through the brochure and found that land prices in the city have shot up. The prices mentioned in the booklet are just the bidding amount and after the final auction, they are likely to go higher. It is not at all affordable for a middle-class person,' said Unit-III resident Chintamani Behera, a a state government employee.