Himachal's housing auction draws poor response

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 17

The slowdown impact of the Covid pandemic seems to have severely impacted real estate as Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) could barely get 37 buyers for its 400 plots and flats in the otherwise most desired tourist attraction of Shimla, Kullu, Dharamsala and Solan.

The response of buyers at the auction that HIMUDA held here last week was far dismal than anticipated. It was despite the fact that HIMUDA, the main state government agency which carves out plots for sale and also builds flats, held an auction after more than six months. The total amount that could be raised from the sale of 37 units was a mere Rs 10.50 crore.

The plots which were sold included 11 at Dharampur, seven at Mandhala and one at Sheel in Solan district, six in Shimla, one at Palampur and four in Kullu.

“Though, generally there used be a lot of interest in prospective buyers from outside HP in our plots and flats because it saves them from the hassles of seeking relaxation under Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reform Act the response was worse than we anticipated,” admitted an official. Seeing the response of the buyers, the HIMUDA is likely to put on hold its plans of setting up more housing colonies for some time in the near future.

HIMUDA had proposed to allot these plots and flats through draw of lots. Normally, people from outside Himachal, especially from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi have preferred places like Shimla, Kasauli, Barog, Dharamapur, Kullu, Dharamsala, Nahan and Paonta Sahib.