DDA’s next housing scheme after Games
The Delhi Development Authority, the city’s largest land owning and development agency, was expected to launch a new housing scheme by the middle of this year.
Your wait to own an affordable house in Delhi may get slightly longer. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the city’s largest land owning and development agency, was expected to launch a new housing scheme by the middle of this year.
The authority, however, now plans to announce the scheme only after the Commonwealth Games get over.
Here’s why — DDA plans to offer about 10,000 flats, which are nearing completion, in its next housing scheme.
Out of these, 5,000 flats in Vasant Kunj and Jasola will be used to accommodate tourists arriving in the city for
the Games.
“Earlier, there were plans to launch the housing scheme by the middle of 2010, as many flats are almost ready,” said a senior DDA official, who did not wish to be identified.
“However, a large number of flats will be given out to tourists for accommodation, which we will get back after the Games are over. Instead of announcing another housing scheme, it’s better to offer all the flats at one go,” the official said.
Unlike private developers, DDA only launches a housing scheme when flats are complete and ready for possession.
At present, DDA is building around 15,000 new flats and 10,000 of these are either complete or nearing completion.
The flats are located in different parts of the city, like Jasola, Narela, Vasant Kunj, Rohini and Dwarka.
For most Delhiites, a DDA housing scheme is their only chance of owning a house in
the capital.
In its last housing scheme, launched in 2008, DDA had 5020 flats including one, two and three bedroom ready-to-move flats priced between Rs 7.95 lakh to Rs 77.80 lakh.
With around 10,000 flats this time, its latest housing scheme is going to be one of the biggest ever. Previous schemes launched by DDA were in 2006, when 3500 flats were on offer.
Before that, DDA had launched a housing scheme in 2004, where 2500 flats were
on offer.
The flats in Vasant Kunj and Jasola, that are to be used for accommodating tourists, are being refurbished by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) as per three-star hotel standards.
The DDA spokesperson could not be contacted for comments, over the phone, despite repeated attempts.