HYDERABAD: More than 2,000 ready-to-occupy flats, constructed under Rajiv Swagruha scheme at various locations in Hyderabad are lying vacant owing to lack of proper management and marketing efforts by the government.
Construction of apartments was taken up at five locations in Hyderabad under Rajiv Swagruha scheme in 2007 with an aim to provide affordable flats to middle class people. Though the scheme got a lot of attention from home buyers initially, owing to poor planning and lack of marketing efforts, the initiative ran into problems.
The situation is so pitiable that even if there are people who are ready to buy a house, the government is not in a position to sell as the decision to fix the price of the house is yet to be taken after reviewing the present market conditions.
“Sale of the houses were last done in 2013. Owing to various disturbances and operation difficulties sales were stopped. After the formation of Telangana state in 2014, the government has decided to review the price according to present market conditions. Once the price is fixed we can tell you the exact price,” says an official who is in-charge of one of the projects.
Rajiv Swagruha apartments are located at Chandanagar, Bandlaguda (Nagole), Pocharam (Ghatkesar), Jawaharnagar, Gajularamaram in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits.
While apartments at Chandanagar, which has 1,140 flats, was completed successfully and all flats were occupied, there were problems in other projects. Apartments at Gajularamaram with 896 flats and Jawaharnagar with 2,856 flats are left semi finished.
The projects at Bandlaguda and Pocharam, which are receiving queries from buyers of late, have more than 700 ready to occupy flats and already 600 flats have been occupied. Both Bandlaguda and Pocharam were have more than 2,600 flats.
With no clarity on the construction time of semi-finished flats, some people who had applied for flats and paid deposit amount, are applying for refunds after being vexed by all the waiting. However, Rajiv Swagruha Corporation is unable to pay due to lack of funds.