PUDA cancels flat scheme

JALANDHAR: Having launched its 22-storeyed multi-tower flat scheme Splendid Heights at the Old Jail site last year by spending a huge amount of Rs 1.01 crore on design and publicity alone, the Punjab Urban Housing and Development Authority (PUDA) has now cancelled it and has even started returning the earnest money to its 67 allottees collected about 10 months ago.

The foundation stone for the multi-storeyed flats at the Old Jail site that was laid by Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal in Jalandhar in February last year. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 22

Having launched its 22-storeyed multi-tower flat scheme Splendid Heights at the Old Jail site last year by spending a huge amount of Rs 1.01 crore on design and publicity alone, the Punjab Urban Housing and Development Authority (PUDA) has now cancelled it and has even started returning the earnest money to its 67 allottees collected about 10 months ago.

Finding it almost impossible to continue with the scheme with such a low number of allottees, PUDA has now decided to re-plan the scheme, keeping it more commercial and retaining only a small residential pocket at the site which falls in the heart of the city. PUDA had received Rs 3.5 crore as earnest money from the applicants and was expecting to earn about Rs 24.96 crore from the scheme, which did not evince a good response since the flats were exorbitantly priced.

A 3 BHK flat had been priced at Rs 71.9 lakh, of which Rs 4 lakh was to be paid as earnest money at the time of applying for the scheme. A 4 BHK flat had been priced at Rs 91.9 lakh, for which the earnest money had been kept at Rs 6 lakh. Nearly 380 three-bedroom flats and 108 four-bedroom flats had been proposed for the first phase. Most realtors had been saying only then that the project, being highly priced, would not be saleable, but officials concerned chose to go on.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had laid the foundation stone at the site on February 10 last year during which it was proposed that 490 of the total 832 high-end flats would come up here in the first part of construction. The PUDA teams had held a massive campaign for the scheme, putting up huge signages across the city, installing LEDs to show walk-through videos of the project and even sending teams abroad to attract NRIs.

PUDA had roped in Mohali-based Syal and Associates for preparing structural design of the total 832 proposed flats in the complex for an amount of Rs 21.8 lakh. It had also tied up with Eco Laboratories and Consultants, another company in Mohali, for seeking environmental clearance, for which it is to pay an amount of Rs 4.22 lakh. The authority had spent Rs 47.85 lakh for publicising the scheme through various media. Despite much effort, there were just about 78 applications of whom a few backtracked and finally a draw for 67 applicants was held during which only 16 allotments were done for 4 BHK flats.

Chief Administrator Jalandhar Development Authority GS Khehra said, “The project which is part of OUVGL is being re-planned in the office of Chief Administrator PUDA at Chandigarh. We had been told to give refunds to the allottees of the scheme, which we have been doing.”

Plot scheme getting good response

PUDA has launched a freehold residential plot scheme at Sheikhe Pind on Old Hoshiarpur Road. Out of a total of 112 plots, 44 are of 200 sq yards, 41 of 125 sq yards, 11 of 150 sq yards and 16 of 100 sq yard area. The price of the plots has been kept at 12,500 per sq yard. While the scheme opened about a month ago, officials are now contemplating to get it extended.