The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has recently issued a stern warning to nine group housing developers, instructing them to complete the construction of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) flats promptly or face the cancellation of their projects. Out of the total 7,030 EWS units and an equivalent number of LIG units slated to be constructed by these developers, only 2,691 EWS units and 2,474 LIG units have been completed.
According to CP Tripathi, the additional secretary of GDA, it is mandatory for developers to allocate 10% of the total flats in group housing societies to EWS and 10% to LIG categories. The GDA grants approval to project maps only when developers commit to constructing these flats within a specified timeframe. However, numerous developers have failed to adhere to their commitments.
Tripathi revealed that a recent meeting was convened by the GDA to address these non-compliant developers, where they were required to provide a project status report and were sternly advised to expedite the completion of EWS and LIG flats. Failure to comply with these directives could result in the cancellation of their projects.
Former chief town planner of GDA, Asheesh Shivpuri, emphasised that EWS and LIG flats are designated for the financially weaker sections of society, with estimated costs of around Rs 6 lakh for EWS flats and Rs 9 lakh for LIG flats. The prescribed area for EWS flats is 24-36 sqm, while LIG flats should range from 40-60 sqm. Shivpuri noted the failure of many developers to construct these flats within the stipulated three-year period following map approval by development authorities.
To ensure transparency, Shivpuri proposed that developers should disclose the number of EWS and LIG flats in their projects. Prospective beneficiaries could then apply for these flats through the GDA. Once ready, a committee formed by the GDA, led by the vice chairperson and the district magistrate, would allocate the flats using a lottery system.
Gaurav Gupta, the secretary of Credai-NCR, acknowledged that some defaulting developers are associated with integrated and high-tech townships, attributing the issue to a legacy problem predating the establishment of UP-Rera. Gupta highlighted past ambiguities in the pricing of EWS and LIG flats, which have now been resolved by linking prices to the cost index. He emphasised that developers will not receive completion certificates until they comply with these regulations.
