GDA to seal banks operating from homes

Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has issued notices to residential property owners who have rented out their premises to private and nationalized banks in the city area and have given a week's ultimatum to seal the branches if they do not shift to commercial properties.

Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has issued notices to residential property owners who have rented out their premises to private and nationalized banks in the city area and have given a week's ultimatum to seal the branches if they do not shift to commercial properties.

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GDA has issued notices to 62 property owners where bank branches are operating in the city. GDA Vice-Chairman Narendra Kumar Chaudhary told HT that such notices have been served as the property owners have violated the residential land-use directions.

“Such branches would be sealed within seven days if they are not shifted elsewhere," Chaudhary said. Officials also stated that only five to six branches under the GDA's jurisdiction area were found complying with the norms.

In response to the notices, GDA officials have received several responses from the property-owners who seek more time. “The time such property owners say they require is six months or more and that cannot be allowed,” Chaudhary said.

Reacting to GDA's notices, a senior bank official said that they have been running branches for several years and have a large customer base in the residential areas.

“The sealing activity would inconvenience the customers and operations as the branches are locate in close vicinity to the residential areas and customers find it convenient to access bank facilities,” said a bank official. “We would urge the property-owner to take up the matter in the interest of the customers.”