DDA starts inspecting housing scheme flats it will offer this season

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has started inspection of about 13,000 flats to be offered under its new housing scheme in mid-June. The examination will be done by six teams of engineers.

The agency has also decided to take punitive action against concerned official if any deficiency is detected in the construction. Each team comprises third party representatives.

The decision to carry out an inspection was taken as a majority of the flats are old construction, which were surrendered by the buyers during the 2014 scheme for ‘shoddy construction, inadequate water supply, poor connectivity, roads, streetlights, and non-availability of markets in the vicinity’.

Following the in-principle approval for the housing scheme by the then Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung last year, the agency started renovation of flats and sprucing up infrastructure in and around the colonies.

“All shortcomings have been addressed. Final inspections has begun. This is being done to avoid a rerun of 2014. Before the launch, we wanted all basic facilities in place because this was the main reason buyers surrendered dwelling units in 2014. We have also taken an undertaking from our engineers who are responsible for renovations or repairs. The inspections will cross-check their claims,” Udai Pratap Singh, vice chairman, DDA told HT.

To ensure effective and a transparent exercise, engineers of the same zone have not been included in the teams, added Singh.

The authority has also made a special provision for a joint visit of the flat by the allottee and DDA official before the final allotment. “The buyer will be allowed to inspect the site himself before possession. Action will be initiated against the engineer in-charge if any fault is noticed,” said Singh.

The land owning agency will be offering around 13,000 flats under its housing scheme, of which 350 are two-room Middle Income Group flats, while about 11,000 are either one-bedroom Lower Income Group Flats flats or Janta flats.