Homebuyer protests against defaulting builders have become a common sight in the National Capital Region (NCR). The majority of housing projects in the key markets of NCR – Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida and Dwarka Expressway, have been delayed by over 3 years. But in new turn of events. Homebuyers living along Dwarka Expressway took to the streets, railing against the government and local authorities for not completing the Dwarka Expressway road network, leaving thousands of home buyers in the lurch.

HOMEBUYERS FEEL CHEATED

“I invested my life’s savings in this property along the Dwarka Expressway because the government had promised world class infrastructure facilities around this area along with the Expressway. The expressway has missed atleast 18 deadlines. The sad part is my flat is ready for possession but I cannot move in because I do not have a road. I do not have access to basic infrastructure,” said an anguished Komal Ahuja who has been waiting to move into his dream home for the past two years.

RISE AND FALL OF REAL ESTATE IN DWARKA EXPRESSWAY

The expressway meant good connectivity; reason enough for developers to launch projects along the expressway. Soon enough, the green farmlands that lined the expressway gave way to highrises, completely changing the region’s skyline. Within a span of about 6 years, over 60 housing projects with about 50,000 units were launched and over 100,000 families invested in the area. Property prices soon shot up to between Rs 10,000 to Rs 11,000 per sq. foot. But the extremely slow progress of the expressway project took the steam out of this real estate market, with prices plummeting to around Rs 5,000 per sq. foot.

WHAT IS BLOCKING THE EXPRESSWAY?

The Haryana and Delhi governments were supposed to jointly construct the 150-metre wide, 18-kilometer long expressway. But ever since the project was launched in 2007, the two state governments have failed to acquire the land needed on the Gurgaon and Delhi side. Several years were wasted fighting legal battles over land acquisition and the relocation of 348 families whose houses and farm lands were obstructing the expressway. Even after a year of the Punjab and Haryana High Court passing its order, the Haryana government is yet to compensate and relocate these families.

NH STATUS TO DWARKA EXPRESSWAY; ROAD TO BE READY BY JUNE, 2017

In a new twist to the whole story, Union Transport and Road Minister, Nitin Gadkari gave National Highway status to the Dwarka Expressway and directed National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to take over the project and complete it by June, 2017. But even after a month of the announcement, there has been no progress and NHAI seems to be very reluctant to take over the project, given the complexities involved in the project.

TOP FIVE THINGS ABOUT DWARKA EXPRESSWAY

· Dwarka Expressway gets National Highway status

· It will be known as NH8-A

· Project to be taken over by NHAI

· New deadline for completion is June, 2017

· HUDA still struggling to clear the way

Reporter : Oineetom Ojha, NDTV
Web Editor : Nikhil Narayan Sivadas, NDTV