Gurugram's town planning department plans to recommend ban on NBCC

Gurugram’s town planning department plans to recommend ban on NBCC

The Town and Country Planning (TCP) department of Gurgaon is planning to recommend a ban on state-owned construction firm NBCC following complaints of shoddy construction and poor workmanship by buyers in a group housing project delivered by the company. Homebuyers of Green View in Sector-37D of Gurgaon have been demanding a refund from NBCC, citing safety issues over society buildings.

A report prepared by IIT Delhi after a structural audit of the buildings has also termed them “unsafe” to live in. “We will send the recommendation to the state government to not give a licence to NBCC for any project till they satisfy the residents of Green View,” district town planner Sanjay Kumar said. “The decision has been taken after reviewing the IIT report and structural engineers’ report.” An NBCC executive told ET that.

“Any rumour of barring NBCC from issue of licence is unsubstantiated and hence denied”. The executive, however, said the construction firm has been proactively taking all measures that are necessary to protect the interest of its customers, including their safety. According to a letter written by homebuyers, the construction for a total of 786 flats started in 2012, and the flats were to be delivered by May 2015.

Out of the total, NBCC could manage to sell only 263 units. The remaining 523 units remain unsold till date. “In a meeting in September 2021, the homebuyers’ association demanded a complete buy-back of flats with interest and other compensation, to which CMD, NBCC had agreed and said that they would put the proposal for buy back before their board of directors,” said G Mohanty, president, Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO), NBCC Green View.

As per the letter, NBCC had issued a notice on October 20, 2021, asking residents to vacate their flats within 15 days for comprehensive repair works on all the buildings without offering them any alternative accommodation. Several buyers have approached the Delhi High Court demanding a complete refund of their money. The court has fixed February 23 as the next date of hearing. Some of the allottees have even approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).