It seems people are least bothered about the fate of illegal construction carried out on their properties.
If poor response to Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorized Development Act (Gruda) is any indication, successive attempts by the authorities to encourage people to come forward and regularize their illegal properties have failed to evoke good response.
Against around five lakh illegal constructions in the city, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has received only 44,191 applications for regularising unauthorised constructions with last day for submission of such application being February 19, 2013.
The state government took a number of steps so that benefit of the scheme could reach maximum number of people in the state. It not only extended the deadline for submitting application to get illegal construction regularised but also made application process simple and people-friendly. More importantly, it also slashed the fee to be paid for getting them regularised.
However, less than 10% owners of such properties have applied under the scheme as on December 31, 2012. Nearly three lakh application forms were distributed by AMC but only 44,191 applications have been received by the civic body . It has issued ‘regularise’ certificate in case of 280 applications. The highest 104 certificates were given in New West Zone followed by North Zone with 79 certificates. The civic body has asked 415 applicants to pay the Impact Fees.
The civic body is scrutinising 12,328 applications, while in case of 31,444 other applications, the civic body has asked applicants to make necessary changes. Parking provision as per General Development Control Regulation (GDCR) is a critical issue as many commercial complexes have not been able to provide parking space. Under Gruda, a parking committee takes decision about regularising the constructions. The civic body’s town planning department has forwarded four applications to the parking committee for taking a final call.
AMC expected to get revenue of nearly Rs200 crore with the move. However, it has been able to garner only Rs2.24 crore toward impact fees and parking fees.
This year, the used car segment grew by 25 %, much higher compared to new cars’ demand, believes director of Group Planet Petal, Sukhbir Bagga. “However, after Diwali, used car business is slow but we expect it to pick up soon,” he said.
Elaborating the reasons, Sandip Kumar, general manager-sales of Manan Autolink, said that these days market of fresh cars is down due to investment in real estate which had reduced the rotation of money. “Another reason is hike in petrol price and hike in prices Diesel cars. This has led to higher demand for used cars,” he said.
Interestingly, in both the segment — new and used cars — Alto and Wagon R are leaders. “In Ahmedabad, approximately up to 2,000 used cars are sold every month. Maximum demand for used cars ranges in the segment of Rs2 lakh and Rs2.5 lakh. Alto and Wagoner are in higher demand,” said Kumar adding that in new cars, the maximum sold units ranges between Rs4 lakh and Rs5 lakh.
In new cars, the diesel cars contribute up to 40% to 45% of the total sales. While in used cars, its share is more than 75%, said Kamlesh Kaurani of Jolly Motors.
Up to last year, 70% customers used to prefer CNG but due to hike in CNG and petrol prices, ratio between petrol and diesel car has changed. “Now, few people ask for petrol cars. Even middle class to higher class people give more preference to diesel as it gives more mileage,” said Raju Rajput, a used car broker.
Of the total sales of new cars, about 85% are financed while in used cars, the ratio is less than 30%, said Rajput.
