A saga of broken promises

There is no place like home, goes the popular cliché.For many who have bought flats built by private builders in Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida, there is a vicious undertone to the adage: there really is no place like the home they were shown in the brochure that sealed the sale.

There is no place like home, goes the popular cliché.For many who have bought flats built by private builders in Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida, there is a vicious undertone to the adage: there really is no place like the home they were shown in the brochure that sealed the sale.

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Not only are services promised absent, many times builders even rent out common facilities like gymnasiums and community centres.

“Our community centre has been converted into a banquet-hall and a convention centre. As per the original plan there was no such provision,” said a RWA member of Windsor Park in Indirapuram, who did not want to be quoted.

Predictably, builders disagree that they cheated buyers.

“We had specifically mentioned in our brochures that these designs are subject to change as per prevailing rules and government laws. We have fully approved facilities. Club membership is also provided to residents who have access to the facilities,” said Mahender Goel, Associate Director, Assotech Realty. The company built the Windsor Park.

For beleaguered residents inadequate maintenance of society facilities adds to their headache.

“We have a big problem with maintenance. Neither the builder nor the development agencies are ready to undertake the maintenance of our society,” said Sanjay Singh, a RWA member of Shipra Suncity in Ghaziabad.

Sanjay Garg, chief general manager, Shipra Estate refused to comment. “I cannot provide any details on the matter,” he said.

The story repeats itself in neighbouring Greater Noida.

Take the case of Senior Citizen's Complex (SCC) where over 1,000 residents — a majority of them aged more than 60 — have been left in the lurch after the society developer failed to complete basic infrastructure that it had promised initially.

The project, which was a planned for retired personnel from central and state governments was to be completed by 2004.

“There are no lifts and fire protection system in several blocks, incomplete roads, inadequate power back up, loose unsafe cables and unlit areas," said Pratap Narain (65), resident, SCC.

Surender Uppal — the builder of the complex who acquired 15 acres of land from the Greater Noida Authority on subsidized rates — said business losses and non-payment from residents are responsible for the non completion.