DDA scheme enters last leg, interest for Narela lags

NEW DELHI: More than three weeks since its launch, the response to Delhi Development Authority’s Housing Scheme 2019 has been tepid but officials feel applications for the nearly 18,000 flats will pick up from April 25, a fortnight before the scheme closes on May 10.

“Since March 25, when the scheme was launched, we have received more than 7,500 applications,” a senior DDA official said. “The figures might seem low but they are better than what we have seen in the initial weeks for the previous schemes. Usually, people apply in the last two weeks before a scheme comes to a close,” he said.

This time all applications are coming through banks and many banks have not forwarded all applications yet, he added. “The registration amount for MIG and HIG flats is Rs 2 lakh and we believe most applicants don’t want to block it in advance and lose out on bank interest,” the official said.

Out of the total 17,922 flats, Vasant Kunj has 1,286, including an unprecedented number of 336 three-bedroom ones. Most of the flats on offer are located in Narela, maximum of them being one-bedroom ones (8,164) or those meant for economically weaker sections (6,536).

“The one-, two- and three-bedroom flats in Vasant Kunj are proving to be popular,” the official said. The Narela flats are yet to have many applicants, he added.

In the previous housing schemes, a large number of flats in Narela were surrendered by allottees, primarily due to their small size and lack of connectivity in the area. “Under the current scheme, the size of the one-bedroom flats is bigger. Also, a large number of flats in Narela are located near the main road,” the official said. “DDA is expecting that all flats in Narela will be accepted by the successful applicants this time.”