DDA site crashes as scheme launched
Website received over 5 lakh hits after scheme launch 5- year lock- in period for ownership of flats
The Delhi Development Authority website crashed within hours of the agency launching its biggest housing scheme, offering over 25,000 flats, on Monday. The DDA website has either been too slow or completely inaccessible for users since the housing scheme was launched on Monday morning.
“Soon after the launch, we received over 5 lakh hits on our official website, following which it crashed. Efforts are on to restore the service,” a senior DDA official said.
The error messages that the users got when they visited the website were, “Server is too busy” or “This webpage is not available.” At times, the site opened, but the brochure detailing the scheme could not be downloaded.
The DDA launched its much- awaited Housing Scheme 2014 at the Vikas Sadan, its headquarters, as locals and people from neighbouring states stood in long queues to buy the application forms.
Announcing the launch of the biggest scheme, DDA vice-chairperson Balvinder Kumar said, “The DDA Housing Scheme 2014 is now officially open. We are offering 25,034 flats in the scheme, out of which 22,627 are onebed room apartments. Among others, are 896 flats constructed after 2010, with green technology.”
The housing scheme offers flats ranging from ` 7 lakh to ` 1.2 crore across categories — EWS, LIG, MIG, HIG, Janta flats and one- room apartments.
Out of 896 newly- built flats, 512 are MIG flats and 384 Janta flats, located in Mukherjee Nagar, Narela, Rohini and Kalyan Vihar areas. The MIG flats would range from ` 41.30 lakh and ` 69.90 lakh and the Janta flats would cost a little over ` 10 lakh.
“Nearly 20 lakh appli-
Offer opened on Monday and closes on October 9. Draw likely to be held in October. Flats will be handed over by March 2015.
Any Indian citizen above 18 years can apply
90% of flats ( 22,600) are onebedroom apartments located in prime areas such as Vasant Kunj, Dwarka and Rohini
cants are estimated to apply for this scheme and therefore we have printed about 15 lakh forms and brochures so far. but, if needed, we can print more. We have also empanelled 13 banks, who will assist the applicants,” Mr Kumar said.
The application forms for the housing scheme can also be bought from designated branches of 13 banks — Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank, Induslnd Bank, Union Bank of India, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank, HDFC Bank, Corporation Bank and Central Bank of India. Another way to access the brochure is to visit the websites of these 13 banks, which have been authorised by the DDA to accept online applications.
These banks have also been authorised by the DDA to accept application forms. Online applicants can pay the registration money of ` 1 lakh through NEFT, RTGS or Net banking, the DDA said.
The last date of depositing applications is October 9. The draw will be held within 15 to 20 days after October 9 and possession will be given latest by March 2015. Although the DDA schemes lead to a fair amount of excitement, this time around however, the excitement is missing. That’s because the DDA has for the first time introduced a five- year lock- in period for ownership of flats. The DDA will not execute the conveyance deed with flat buyers for five years. In simple terms, the agency will not transfer rights to own the property for five years. So, those who are lucky enough to get a flat in the upcoming scheme will be able to live in the flat or rent it out, but will not have selling rights for five years. The new rule is a dampener for brokers and investors, whose sole motive to buy a DDA flat was to earn quick profits.