BENGALURU: THE block of 3,280 Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) flats advertised in April has failed to create much enthusiasm among the public going by the number of applicants received so far. “The allottee list is set to be released within a fortnight and only 894 applicants figure in it,” said a top official.
The flats of 1BHK, 2BHK and 3BHK dimensions are spread across Alur, Doddabanahalli, Malagala, Kanminike, Komaghatta, Halage Vaderahalli and Valagerahalli.
“We had fixed March 16, 2016, as the last date for applications and extended the deadline by a month up to April 16 to encourage more applications. However, the response has not been good and only 894 will soon be owners of the BDA flat,” he said.
This is in sharp contrast to the demand for BDA sites. The recent allotment at Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Layout had 31,349 applicants vying for 5,000 sites. A considerable number were even making their 8th or 9th attempt to acquire a site.
Asked about the reasons for the disappointing response, the official said, “The call for BDA’s Kempegowda Layout sites at the same time has definitely affected it. Applicants need to pay 12.5 per cent of the cost of the flat or site as initial deposit at the time of application. So, the public may not have had enough money in hand to buy both the flat and site and might have settled for the site,” he said.
The remainder needs to be paid in three instalments within a period of six months.
All the 1BHK flats except those in Alur have been sold out. “The BBMP has recently placed a request for 550 1BHK houses in Alur alone,” the official said.
However, the 3 BHK flats which are bigger with a 1,200 sqft built-up area as compared to the regular 900 sqft built up area of a 3BHK flat, is not much in demand as it is considered costly at `45 lakh a flat, the official pointed out.
When asked if public could be apprehensive about the quality of the construction, he ruled that out. “For the last three years, we have been recognised at the national-level for the quality of our constructions. The Association of Consulting Civil Engineers awarded us in 2016 while the Indian Concrete Institute awarded us in 2015 and 2014,” the official said.
While private builders go all out to advertise their properties, BDA lacks efforts on the marketing front, the official conceded. Moreover, the flats are not given fancy names as is being done by private players, he said. “They are only known as BDA flats at Valagerahalli or Kanminike and this may just not be catchy enough to draw the attention of the public,” he said.
They are not in remote areas too as many imagine. For instance, Malagale is in the heart of the city and is part of Nagarbhavi Layout, the official added.
BDA now plans to call for another notification in connection with sale of the flats.