The Delhi Development Authority has received around 5,000 applications for its new housing scheme, with senior officials conjecturing that demonetisation could be a factor behind the lesser number of people applying for it
The Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA’s) Principal Commissioner (Housing), JP Agarwal, said that the authority had, so far, received about 5,000 applications for its housing scheme. The 2017 Housing Scheme, which offers 12,000 flats for four income categories, was launched on June 30. The last date for submitting applications is August 11, 2017.
Agarwal said that although they were yet to receive the full details across different categories, the housing authority would make every possible efforts, to address all concomitant issues, including water supply and transportation. “Yes, some areas like Narela and Rohini, have connectivity issues and some of the flats need repair, However, before allotting the flats, we will make them fit to move in,” he assured.
He said the Delhi Jal Board had committed to the DDA, to ensure water supply in all areas where it is lacking, in the next six months. “We have also written letters to the Delhi Metro and DTC authorities, seeking transport infrastructure in these areas,” he said.
See also: DDA launches new housing scheme, with 12,000 flats on offer
The draw of the lots is slated to be conducted in the first week of November 2017 and could be streamed online.
“50,000 forms have been sold so far, which is less but we are waiting and watching as of now,” he said. “One of the reasons for the low number of applications, could be due to the impact of demonetisation. The entire market is down, including the real estate sector,” another senior official of the DDA said.
The flats are spread across Rohini, Dwarka, Narela, Vasant Kunj, Jasola, Pitampura, Paschim Vihar and Siraspur. Of the 12,000 flats, around 10,000 unoccupied ones are from the 2014 housing scheme, while 2,000 have been lying vacant. The price of flats range from close to Rs 7 lakhs to over Rs 1.26 crores. Agarwal said, the DDA wants genuine people to apply and ward off market speculation.
“In the event that we get less than 12,000 applications by the closing of the scheme, we may decide to extend the date of the draw or even hold it, depending on the final number. Or, we may hold the draw for the HIG and MIG categories, for which we have received about 2,000-3,000 applications and postpone the draw for the LIG segment. However, that call would be taken, once we near the August 11 deadline. Nothing is finalised as of now,” he said.
The four categories of houses are – HIG (High Income Group) with 87 flats ranging from Rs 53.52 lakhs to Rs 126.81 lakhs; MIG (Middle Income Group) with 404 flats ranging from Rs 31.32 lakhs to Rs 93.95 lakhs; LIG (Lower Income Group)/one-bed room flats numbering 11,197 and ranging from Rs 14.50 lakhs to Rs 30.30 lakhs; and 384 ‘janta’ flats ranging from Rs 7.07 lakhs to Rs 12.76 lakhs. For the LIG category, the registration fee will be Rs 1 lakhs while for the MIG and HIG flats, Rs 2 lakhs will be charged.
The 2014 scheme offered 25,040 flats across categories, with prices ranging between Rs 7 lakhs and Rs 1.2 crores. The online response was so massive that the DDA’s official website crashed soon after the launch. The one-bedroom flats were offered in Dwarka, Rohini, Narela and Siraspur areas.
DDA housing scheme receives 5,000 applications for 12,000 flats
