Signature View Apartment case: DDA sets Nov 30 deadline to vacate complex

Signature View Apartment

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has given November 30 as the deadline to the residents of the Signature View Apartment housing complex, located in North Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, to vacate the premise, which has been declared “structurally unsafe” by IIT Delhi last year, sources privy to the development told Moneycontrol.

They said that the DDA has sent the final agreement, detailing the modalities of payment of rent, evacuation and reconstruction of flats to the residents last week.

After all the flats are vacated, the DDA will start preparations for the demolition of the 12-storey structures, the method of which is yet to be decided.

Also Read: Exclusive | Signature View Apartment case: DDA to hire consultant to suggest demolition method

Nearly 1,200-1,300 people are still living in these buildings, which started showing signs of shoddy construction almost from the day they moved in, and are refusing to vacate until they get an assurance from the DDA on evacuation, payment of rent for the accommodation they will be housed in, and reconstruction of flats and handover within three years.

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Signature View Apartment graphic

CBI probe, final agreement

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena had, on January 24, ordered DDA to evacuate and redevelop the “structurally damaged” Signature View Apartment housing complex. He had also recommended that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe lapses into the construction of the housing complex.

“The final agreement explaining the terms of rent payment, evacuation and reconstruction of flats has been sent to the residents. They will have to sign and accept it by October 15. After October 15, they will be given 45 days’ time to vacate the premises. So the deadline for vacating the premises and handing it over to the DDA is November 30, 2023,” a source said.

He said preparations regarding the demolition of the structures can be started only after flats are handed over to the authority. Signature View Apartment housing complex consists of 12 towers and 336 flats.

Residents’ concern

Amrendra Jha, president, Signature View Apartment Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA), confirmed that the DDA has sent the final agreement but they have put a condition that the rent will be paid to the residents only after all 336 flats are vacated, which is an “unrealistic situation” as most of the families here are unable to afford rent and their EMIs simultaneously for long.

“We will reply to the agreement within the given timeframe. We want the DDA to amend this condition and start releasing the rent as soon as 70 percent premise is vacated. Because of this particular condition, residents are apprehensive about vacating their flats. Recently, we have given our representation to the lieutenant governor on this issue. We will be meeting the LG again over this issue in a few days,” Jha told Moneycontrol.

Also Read: Signature View Apartment Case: 9 months after evacuation notice, residents continue to live in dilapidated structures

The DDA had, in June 2023, given two offers to the residents -- one was the direct buyback of the flats while the other was the reconstruction of the flats, under which DDA would provide newly built flats at the same place with the same specifications. Further, the facilitation amount towards rent would also be paid during the construction period.