Few takers for DDA flats despite deadline extension

Despite extending the deadline once for its 2017 housing scheme, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has failed to attract prospective buyers. 

Till Wednesday, the DDA had received only 6,000 applications which is half the number of flats on offer. DDA had launched the housing scheme on 30 June this year, offering over 12,000 flats in Delhi’s Mundka, Bawana, Rohini and Dwarka areas, under the categories of Lower Income Group (LIG), Middle Income Group (MIG) and Higher Income Group (HIG). 

The last date for submission of applications was extended last month till 11 September and in order to attract more applicants, the DDA has announced a loan facility through banks chosen by the authority to help applicants pay the initial registration fee. “To encourage buyers, we have notified the names of the banks from which applicants can take loan for payment of registration amounts. These banks are: Axis Bank, Central Bank of India, HDFC Bank,  IDBI Bank, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and Yes Bank,” a DDA official said. 

For the Lower Income Group (LIG) category, registration fee has been fixed at Rs 100,000, while for the middle and higher income groups, registration fee has been fixed at Rs 2,00,000. Though the DDA has not announced any further extension of deadline for submission of applications beyond 11 September, sources said extension is a possibility, given the poor public response to the housing scheme so far.  

“The last date for submission of applications for the DDA housing scheme may be extended as till Wednesday, the authority had received only 6,000 applications,” the same DDA official cited above said. 

Most of the flats being offered by the DDA in its current housing scheme had been returned by allottees of the 2014 draw, citing small size, lack of infrastructure and the pathetic condition of the flats. However, J.P. Agarwal, principal commissioner (land disposal and housing) of DDA, said: “Loan facility for the registration process will attract more applicants and the procedure, hopefully, will get over soon. Infrastructure has improved in the areas where these flats are located and the DDA is committed to providing facilities in these areas. All the pending work will be over by the end of this year,” he added.