‘Dream’ flats in Noida, Greater Noida caught in realty nightmare

If you thought getting possession of your dream flat in Noida spelt the end of your troubles, think again.

Those who have got possession of their houses at long last say that’s the start of a new ‘kind of struggle’, one that is quite different from the long wait.

Buyers who have successfully shifted into their ready flats in group housing complexes are still waiting for the common facilities such as the club, swimming pool, local shopping complex and drinking water supply — all those ‘nice, convenient things’ that had made them buy a flat in a gated society in the first place.

Hindustan Times profiles six projects where flats have been delivered, only for homebuyers to realise that their ‘dream homes’ are a far cry from what the shiny catalogues sold them.

Some are crying foul over the messy society they now find themselves in, sans common facilities and functional lifts, while others are happy that at least the wait to get their house is over.

For some, just getting hold of their flat is sheer happiness - Kalypso Court, Sector 128

The Jaypee Group launched this project, along Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, in 2007 and has delivered around 600 units of a total 1,340 flats.

While the construction on the remaining units is underway, most buyers who have moved in are happy that they got possession, unlike the scores still waiting for their flats to be delivered.

The project has 30 to 60-metre wide neat and well-maintained roads, a lush green golf course, walking tracks, beautiful green belts and spacious parking lots in most of the towers.

“Finally I got my dream home. The builder has delivered what he had promised at the time of purchase. I am happy with the construction quality, security apparatus and the maintenance work. Now, we are waiting for our club to be ready. I can see from my balcony that the swimming pool will soon be ready as well,” Sunita Budhiraja said.

The others, who are yet to get their flats, have their grouses.

“We hope that the government or the court will force the builder to deliver our flats — we have been waiting for the last 10 years,” Krishan Mitroo, a buyer, said.

Jaypee Group vice-president Ashok Khera said, “We are committed to delivering all flats with the quality promised to our customers. We have applied for occupancy certificates for 2,000 more flats. Once we get them, more buyers will be able to shift into their flats and execute registry.”

2,000 flatbuyers live here but occupancy papers yet to come- Amrapali Silicon City, Sector 76

Around 2,000 homebuyers are living in the partially completed project since 2015, but are yet to get occupancy certificates from the Noida authority. Without the occupancy certificate, living in a housing project is illegal. As the Supreme Court is hearing the pleas of homebuyers seeking justice, a resolution professional is looking after the maintenance and water supply, lifts, fire safety, electricity supply and security.

The Silicon City project is spread over 1,76,758 square metres and has around 5,000 flats, which were supposed to be completed by 2013-end. But the builder is yet to complete the civil work on seven towers. It has completed civil work on 21 towers and around 1,000 buyers moved into unfinished flats in 2015-16.

“Inside our flat on the 15th floor, there is so much peace. But step out into the complex, and we have to compromise on most things. Parking is haphazard due to poor management, security is not what we had expected in a gated society, and other common facilities are yet to be put into place,” Seema Arora, who shifted there in 2016, said.

Buyers cannot execute registry of flats as the builder is yet to pay around R500 crore land dues to the Noida authority.

“We hope that the Supreme Court directions will help us get our flats,” Dinesh Singh, another resident, said.

Amrapali Group refused comment saying the matter is sub judice.

Missing: Lifts, fire safety, parking lots - Amrapali Sapphire, Sector 45

Amrapali had launched the 1,000-unit housing project in 2009, over an area of 40,000 sqm. The project has 2BHK, 3BHK, 4BHK units and penthouses in 11 residential towers. These were proposed to be delivered by 2011. Most buyers shifted into their flats in 2014-15 without waiting for the builder to get the occupancy certificate.

Residents of Amrapali Sapphire have many a time filed complaints with the Noida authority, alleging that the developer is yet to provide basic amenities such as fire safety systems, parking, lifts and club facilities, among others.

“Firefighting systems are not functional and not all lifts are working. There is water seepage between expansion joints of walls, which causes the basement to flood. Several civil works are yet to be completed. The only relief is that we got a flat to live in but our struggle for common facilities continues,” Rajiv Kumar, a resident, said.

The builder will have to pay around R100 crore to the Noida authority to get occupancy certificates.

“We do not know when the builder will develop common facilities. We want the builder to first pay the land dues and obtain the OC so that we can execute registries and transfer the property rights to our name,” Pallavi Singh, a buyer, said.

The Amrapali Group refused comment as the matter is in court.

‘Quality of water we get here is pathetic’ - Amrapali Zodiac, Sector 120

There are 22 towers in this project and of them, four are unfinished while 18 are not fully ready. Around 1,400 homebuyers are living in their flats and 800 are yet to move in. The builder had launched the Zodiac project in 2007 with a promise of delivery by 2011.

“Even after a delay of five years, the builder is unable to complete the project. I paid the total cost of the flat years ago and am still living in an unsafe building, because it has not got clearance from the fire department or an occupancy certificate. We hope that the government and the builder will soon come up with a solution and we will be able to transfer the flat to our name,” Harjit Singh, a resident, said.

Residents in all these housing projects depend on groundwater, which is hard.

“Since our project is located near river Hindon, the quality of water supplied to us is pathetic. We hope that the government and the builder ensure us basic facilities such as drinking water, fire safety and other facilities,” Varun Kumar, a buyer, said.

The Amrapali Group refused comment on the issue.

Forget registry, basic facilities are missing - AVJ Heights, Greater Noida’s Zeta 1 Sector

The project was launched in 2010-11 with 12 towers and a total of 1,800 flats, of which around 1,200 are occupied. The builder has failed to complete facilities such as the club and the pool and is yet to obtain a fire safety clearance.

“In 2014-15, the builder lied to us. He asked us to start taking possession of flats and said he will ensure that registry of flats happen within seven days. But in the last three years, forget the registry, the builder has not bothered to finish even the basic facilities,” Jasvinder Singh, who is a member of the apartment owners’ association, said.

Buyers alleged that the builder has sold several flats to multiple persons, thereby creating problems.

“Now the builder is using goons to beat us when we protest. We have filed FIRs against him. After our protests, the administration also filed cases against the builder, but we are yet to get justice, as the builder has not paid around R40 crore land dues to the authority,” DK Chaudhary, another resident, said.

Residents plan to meet the new chief executive officer of Greater Noida authority seeking relief.

“We have written to the UP government, the district magistrate and the CEO of Greater Noida. Now we are planning to meet the new CEO,” Singh said.

“We have got the flats but we are unable to lead a peaceful life as the builder is harassing us for different reasons,” Singh said.

The builder was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.