NEW DELHI: Fourteen years after Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) first in situ slum redevelopment project at Kathputli Colony was announced, the wait for its residents to receive their promised one-bedroom flats in multistorey apartments is likely to come to an end next month. Apartment blocks at the complex are now ready and the first batch of more than 700 flats out of the total 2,800 is going to be handed over in September. According to sources, the first few flats might be handed over to the residents by Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month. The rest of the flats are expected to be handed over by July next year, they said. On Monday, the apartment blocks were lit in tricolours and the residents of the colony also hoisted national flags from the flats that are now ready. Kathputli Colony is DDA’s first in situ slum rehabilitation project for which tender inquiry was floated in 2008 and work was awarded to Raheja Developers in August 2009 under Public-Private Partnership model. As part of the redevelopment project, 2,800 flats in 14-storey towers would be given to slum dwellers who were living in the area for nearly 40 years. In lieu of constructing the EWS houses, the developer would be entitled to build and dispose of some freehold HIG flats and commercial built-up area equivalent to 10% of EWS floor area ratio on leasehold basis. Monday evening saw the Kathputli Colony residents, many of whom are artistes, put up performances like folk dance, chorus singing, kathputli dance, magic show, etc, at the amphitheatre of the complex. “I have sacrificed everything for the last 13 years to make this possible. It will be a proud moment and mission of my life accomplished to see these slum dwellers get their dream home,” said Navin M Raheja, CMD, Raheja Developers Ltd. Raheja Developers said in a statement that the multistoreyed apartments feature all modern facilities and infrastructure like provision for RO drinking water, 100% water recycling and Wi-Fi with high-speed data. On Monday, the residents received a first-hand preview of the flats in which they will move in soon, it said. Apart from the amphitheatre, the complex will also have an exhibition museum to showcase the craft of Kathputli Colony residents who are primarily artistes, including puppeteers, magicians, singers, etc. Apart from the museum, a multipurpose hall, health centre, children’s play area, retail outlets, police post, religious site, area for marriage ceremonies, etc, will also be there. The project has been beset with setbacks and massive delays in every step since its beginning. The ongoing construction work even got affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/freedom-from-long-wait-700-flats-in-delhis-kathputli-colony-to-be-handed-over/articleshow/93578639.cms
