New Delhi:
Tuesday is the last day for all those who wish to try their luck
for the 5010 odd DDA flats up for allotment through a draw of
lots. At the last count on Friday, around 7.5 lakh forms had been
bought. Buyers are still pouring-in at all banks across the city.
The rush is expected to peak on Tuesday, the last day to go for
the "DDA lottery".
At the outset, DDA got around five lakh brochures printed and
later, another five lakh forms were acquired. While DDA's Housing
Commissioner, Asma Manzar, said it was difficult to give out details
regarding the number of forms sold, according to sources, around
7.5 lakh have already been bought. The last count is expected
to be significantly higher.
The response to the DDA Housing Scheme 2008 only reaffirms the
fact that the demand for a house in the space starved Capital
has peaked beyond imagination.
For instance, in 2006, DDA had managed to sell around three lakh
forms and received around 1.90 lakh for the 3000 flats it had
put out for allotment.
The long queues at the form sale-counters during the first week,
after the application process was thrown open on August 6, have
shifted base to the submission counters set-up by banks across
the city.
From enquiring about available loan options to anxious queries
with regard to interest rates, the middle class of the Capital
is all geared up to apply for the DDA flats priced at almost 40%
less than the market price.
All the banks - HDFC, IDBI, AXIS and ICICI - which have been
giving out and accepting the forms for over a month now are expecting
a mad rush on the last day.
To deal with the situation, banks have set-up counters and help
desks outside the premises to entertain anxious applicants. Even
at the DDA headquarters at Vikas Sadan, various counters and help
desks have been set-up by the Union Bank of India and HDFC.
Form counters of HDFC and Union Bank came up just two days ago
and applicants were seen pouring-in on Monday. Rohan Mahajan,
an event manager, was seen applying for the scheme, availing the
offer by banks to fund the initial payment of Rs 1.50 lakh required
at the time of submission of the form.
To avail this offer, applicants would have to make a one-time
payment of a little over Rs 5000 at the time of submission of
the form. This amount includes the interest on the Rs 1.50 lakh
for the period till the result of the draw is out. All those who
don't make it after the draw will have to let go of the Rs 5000
paid now.
On being asked why he was availing the bank's offer, Rohan explained
it was a lucrative option. He added that no middle class person
would like to block Rs 1.50 lakh for a few months and many families
would not even have so large amount of money readily available.
