The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has instructed all allottees to obtain a Unique Account Number (UAN) by 31 August in order to access various pre- and post-allotment property services. These services include allotment, lease deed execution, obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for loans, property transfers, and conversion of leasehold land to freehold.Applicants may generate their UAN by visiting the BDA’s official website: www.bda.gov.in. The UAN will serve as a unique reference for all future transactions and correspondence with the BDA.To assist residents, the authority will soon set up a UAN Facilitation Cell at its headquarters to support registration and resolve related queries.Meanwhile, the BDA has made notable progress in its leasehold-to-freehold land conversion drive. Of the 1,250 applications received so far, 743 conveyance deeds have been successfully registered. A total of 843 applications have been submitted via the BDA’s online portal, reflecting increasing digital engagement.To be eligible for freehold conversion, applicants must have constructed a dwelling on the allotted plot, retained possession for over five years, and hold a valid lease deed with the BDA.To date, 27 housing schemes have been included under the conversion initiative. Key schemes include Pokhariput Phases I–III, Prachi Enclave (Chandrasekharpur), Lumbini Vihar, Udayagiri Vihar (Patrapada), and Lingaraj Vihar (Bhimpur).The conversion fee for residential plots has been fixed at 3 per cent of the most recent benchmark valuation for Gharabari Kissam land, as set by the State Government for 2024.Applicants with mortgaged plots must furnish an NOC from the lending institution. A sworn affidavit declaring no civil dispute is also mandatory. In cases where a legal matter is pending, applications will be processed only after the court has delivered a final verdict.Individuals who have encroached upon government, public sector, or BDA land are ineligible for conversion unless they first vacate the property and submit an affidavit affirming the action.