Now, contractors must give 10-year warranty: Cidco

CBD BELAPUR: After a flood of criticism for the poor quality of work in its housing projects, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) has made it mandatory for contractors to provide a warranty of 10 years of repair and maintenance for all its future projects.

Cidco vice- chairman and managing director Sanjay Bhatia announced this recently.

Senior public relations officer of Cidco Mohan Ninawe said, “A project control consultant will be appointed for tender of every project. The houses will be constructed as per the design and norms specified by him.”

In 1975- 76, Cidco had constructed its first buildings at Sector 1 of Vashi. Thereafter its projects came up in Turbhe, Airoli, Nerul, Kopar Khairane, CBD Belapur, Ghansoli, Panvel and Uran. Over 1.27 lakh houses have been constructed by the planning agency so far.

The projects were given on contract basis while Cidco monitored the projects. The structures at JN type buildings in Vashi, Akaash Ganga in Kopar Khairane, Vaishnavi at Nerul, several buildings in Seawoods and Spaghetti at Kharghar are in a pathetic condition.

With the contractor gone having received his dues, the residents who had dealt with Cidco and paid the money for the flats had nowhere to look for justice in the absence of any warranty. Houses in Vashi were declared dangerous by IIT 15 years ago.

The residents started demanding right to redevelop with additional FSI. Last year, the government granted permission for re-development with 2.5 FSI.

“The construction material used, its quality and other things will be verified. Only after a report is submitted by the consultant will the contractors’ bills be cleared,” Ninawe said.

He said the contractor will have to take responsibility of the building for 10 years and undertake its repair and maintenance. “Taking Cidco contracts will no longer be an easy task as we will keep a strict vigil on every aspect of the work,” Ninawe said.