The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority's (Mhada's) homes may have been 'affordable', but the construction quality isn't even decent, this despite the fact that the housing body pays above average construction cost to its contractor.
dna zeroed in on three cases in Mumbai where there have been 'issues' with regard to construction quality as well as encroachment.
Pratiksha Nagar, Sion
At Chaitanya Society in Pratiksha Nagar, Sion (code 271), half the compound wall is missing. "As a result, most of our parking lots cannot be utilised, besides the fact that this also means we are compromising on the security front," said Sohel Ahmed, a resident. Lottery draw for the project was held in 2011.
"And as if this wasn't enough, 15-20 ground floor pillars cracked. They had to be re-plastered after placing adequate propping to support the structure. All this just a year after getting possession of the flats," added Ahmed.
Moreover, the ground at Pratiksha Nagar is sinking, thereby creating cracks on the flooring.
Charkop, Kandivli
The new Mhada building (scheme code 281) in Charkop, Kandivli, which is said to have just got an occupancy certificate, has a crack running through the entire length of the building.
The building took two years to come up, after the lottery was announced. The crack is present on the building's front as well as back. A sloppy job of filling up the crack in the front is clearly visible. While in some places tin plates have been used, at the peripheral end it's been patched up with cement.
This is not it. A boundary wall, abutting an over 10-foot-wide nullah, is yet to come into place. The parking space for around 200 flats doesn't have the capacity to hold more than 40 vehicles.
Shailendra Nagar, Dahisar
Here, High Income Group apartments were allotted through lottery in 2011. "There is leakage from the walls. During renovation work, one of the workers received an electric shock because of faulty fixtures. The wall plaster too is coming apart," said a resident of Harmony Society.
Even their compound wall was encroached upon by a local politician, and only after the person lost in last year's polls did Mhada undertake construction of the wall.
What about the per foot construction cost?
The construction price that Mhada gives to BG Shirke is way above what's needed for high quality construction — Mhada pays around Rs2,400 per square foot for buildings under Dharavi Redevelopment Project, and approximately Rs2,600 for its project in Bolinj, Virar.
According to real estate industry experts, some of the best construction is possible well within Rs2,000 per square foot.
So what does Mhada have to say?
Chadrakant Dange, joint chief officer of Mhada's Mumbai Board, said. "I have taken charge just two days ago and will not be able to comment offhand. It would be better if the details are shown to me in person so that I can ask someone to resolve the issues."
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