DDA takes over flats at Games Village

The Commonwealth Games Village, that housed athletes during the sporting event, is now back with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The Commonwealth Games Village, that housed athletes during the sporting event, is now back with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The authority is now readying the flats to hand them over to buyers. There are 34 towers in the residential complex, that has 1,168 flats. Out of these, 790 belong to the private developer Emaar MGF and the rest to DDA.

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During the Games, many foreign athletes had complained about shoddy construction work and bad maintenance at the village. DDA and Emaar MGF, however, promise that those buying the flats will get them in immaculate condition.

"Out of the 790 flats, 753 flats were sold by August 31," said an Emaar MGF spokesperson. "Once we take over the flats, they will be repainted and maintenance work will be carried out, in case there are any damages."

The Games Organising Committee (OC) handed over the Village to the DDA on Monday. "We have begun the process of taking charge of the flats in the Village. It will take some time before the whole process is completed," said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar.

The overlays at the Village, installed for the Games, will be dismantled by the end of this month. All equipment in flats, including TV sets and washing machines will be taken away by the OC.

The Village has also been in the news for dogs and snakes entering flats.

"We will make sure the periphery is properly covered, so that animals and snakes can't enter the complex," said a senior DDA official, who did not wish to be named.

"The village was taken away from us in a hurry and now we would ensure there is proper maintenance before the flats are disposed of."

DDA has hired extra manpower to take care of each of 34 the towers. "They will take care of the security and upkeep of the flats," the official said.

Though Emaar MGF has already sold almost all flats that were part of its share, according to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the DDA, the authority will take about six months to dispose off its share of flats.

"The mode of disposal of the flats is yet to be decided," said a senior DDA official, who did not wish to be named.

"It cannot be part of the housing scheme that we will launch soon and might be sold separately later."

The Yamuna Sports Complex and the Siri Fort Sports Complex, that were closed to members during the Games, will be reopened from October 20.