Unfair business practices by developers in India are not uncommon. In fact, almost every other day sees cases where builders are caught hiking prices, reneging on promised deadlines and even giving possession of flats without all necessary approvals. But that free rein may soon be over – at least in Noida. The Greater Noida Authority (GNIDA) is now planning on doing mid-term inspections of housing projects in the region.

Greater Noida Authority Reins In Builders

The move comes in the wake of violations being reported at Supertech’s ‘Czar’ project where the developer has been accused of erecting additional towers without taking the proper approvals. The GNIDA issued a show-cause notice to Supertech on April 11th, asking it to seal all housing units which had not been sanctioned. The authority also came down heavily on the builder for giving possession of flats to home buyers, even though it had not obtained completion certificates for these units.

“It is the duty of the developer or the allotee to adhere to the sanctioned layout plan and if there is any violation then we don’t issue the completion certificate. We are now planning to do mid-term reviews of the projects “said Deepak Agarwal, CEO of the Greater Noida Authority.

Mid-Term Reviews To Check Unfair Practises

Almost 90% of the more than 75 housing projects allotted in 2011 in Greater Noida have not received their completion certificates; which means that physical inspection of these projects are yet to be carried out. What’s worse, most buyers staying in these projects have no idea that it is illegal to occupy such flats. In case complications arise in the future, these homes will be under threat of demolishment and these buyers will have no option but to give up their flats, while the developers gets away Scot-free.

Developers in Noida have welcomed the move, with Manoj Jain of Saya Homes claiming that “mid-term inspections by the authority will ensure that buyer’s investments are safe and that even developers will work efficiently.”

In this day and age of social media, home buyers have taken to voicing their anger in loud and very visible ways. Right now, it is the developers who are at the receiving end. But local authorities should realize it may not be long before buyer anger is turned their way. Which is why, steps like mid-terms reviews are the least that authorities can do to restore public confidence.

Reporter: Chankya Bhatia, NDTV
Web Editor: Nikhil Narayan Sivadas, NDTV