Indian Express 16.11.2010
DDA needs more time, new housing scheme by month-end
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which was to announce its new mega housing scheme by November 15, has revised the dates and will now announce the scheme by the end of this month.
“The details of the scheme are finalised and we are in the process of printing brochures and ironing out the loose ends. The scheme will most certainly be announced by the end of this month,” said a senior official in DDA’s Housing department.
Almost 15,000 houses in areas such as Vasant Kunj, Narela, Dwarka, Rohini, Mukherjee Nagar and Jasola will be up for allotment by DDA’s usual draw of lots system, and the scheme is expected to draw a huge response. While the DDA is being tightlipped about the number of houses in each area, sources revealed that approximately 4,000 to 5,000 houses will be in the newly developed D-6 Vasant Kunj. The houses in Vasant Kunj reportedly also have new design elements, a shift from DDA’s usual style.
“There is no major design overhaul, but the flats in Vasant Kunj have kitchens that are designed better and also more aesthetic window frames,” a DDA official said.
The houses will be spread across various categories such as Low Income Group, Mid Income Group, and High Income Group, and will consist of units that have anywhere between one to five bedrooms.
While the pricing of the houses remains unclear, sources in the DDA point out the prices are likely to be 10 to 15 per cent higher than the Authority’s last scheme. The DDA’s last scheme was announced in 2008 and the houses then were priced between Rs 7.2 lakh and Rs 77.8 lakh, depending on the size and location of the flats. Even if the prices are higher, it will be vastly below than those of private builders.
As with all DDA housing schemes, this one too is expected to draw large crowds, perhaps the largest so far.
When the DDA put up 5,000 houses on draw in 2008, it received over 2 lakh applications. Based on the 2008 rush, the DDA is expecting to draw anywhere between 6 and 8 lakh applications for the new scheme.
