Bhubaneswar: Days after questions were raised over the Bhubaneswar Development Authority’s (BDA) decision to levy a non-refundable Rs 10,000 application fee on homebuyers seeking to participate in the lottery for its Ekamra Residency housing project, the authority on Wednesday decided to adjust the amount against the cost of flats allotted under the scheme. The decision was taken at the 153rd authority meeting chaired by housing and urban development minister and BDA chairman Krushna Chandra Mahapatra.
Ekamra Residency project
TOI recently reported the issue, highlighting concerns among prospective buyers over the authority’s insistence on collecting a Rs 10,000 application fee, apart from a refundable earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs 2 lakh, merely for entering the draw of lots. While the EMD was already adjustable against the flat cost for successful applicants, the application fee was to be retained by BDA irrespective of the allotment outcome, drawing criticism from applicants and legal experts.In a significant relief for homebuyers, BDA has now decided that the Rs 10,000 application fee paid by successful applicants will be adjusted against the final cost of the flat. Unsuccessful applicants will continue to get a full refund of their Rs 2 lakh EMD along with the Rs 10,000 participation fee.The revision effectively removes one of the key objections raised against the housing scheme, in which applicants were required to block Rs 2.1 lakh to participate in the lottery while risking the loss of Rs 10,000 even if they eventually secured a flat.BDA has also announced a package of incentives for allottees, including exemption from GST and a 5% concession on stamp duty. The flats will be offered on a freehold basis with one year of free maintenance. “Our primary objective is to provide quality housing to the citizens. The decisions in the meeting today regarding the housing project were made accordingly,” Mahapatra said.The authority is currently accepting applications for the ready-to-move-in project at Subudhipur. Spread over 7.36 acres, Ekamra Residency comprises three residential towers offering 2BHK and 2BHK-plus-study apartments with amenities such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, community hall, children’s play area, jogging track, power backup, CCTV surveillance and landscaped open spaces.The authority meeting also approved 10 town planning schemes covering nearly 1,815 acres in and around Bhubaneswar and cleared key proposals related to the development of lake zones along drain no. 10.