Chintels collapse: Firm offers two options to settle with flat owners of 3 towers
The realty group will also stop paying rental compensation to house owners who were forced to vacate their flats.
3 min read
In 2022, a sixth floor apartment at Gurgaon’s Chintels Paradiso society collapsed all the way to the first floor, killing two women. Archive Over a year after a large portion of a sixth-floor apartment at Gurgaon’s Chintels Paradiso society in Sector 109 collapsed all the way to the first floor, killing two women and injuring a man, the realty group has written to the Deputy Commissioner offering two options to settle with the flat owners of three towers.
The two options offered are that the group will pay “an all-inclusive price of Rs 6,500/- per sq.ft (super area)” and will refund the stamp duty paid by flat owners. There are around 180 flats in Towers D, E and F. The second option, as per its letter to the DC, states that the group will get the property repaired or rebuilt by a “well-reputed contractor” and handover possession within 36 months. The realty group will also stop paying rental compensation to house owners who were forced to vacate their flats.
The investigation in the case has been taken over by CBI. The Supreme Court is also hearing a plea by residents seeking compensation and action against the developer.
While the apartment that collapsed was in Tower D, a subsequent structural audit report conducted by IIT-Delhi found that towers E and F are “not safe for habitation” and repair of these structures for safe usage is “not technically and economically feasible” given the high chloride content in concrete in the structures. In November 2022, the Gurgaon deputy commissioner had directed the developer to permanently close tower D — which has 18 floors and 64 flats — so demolition could begin.
In its letter, Chintels India said that on account of the “peculiar circumstances”, it was agreeing to pay an “all-inclusive price, along with a buy-back offer, which may be treated as our last and final offer”.
It added that as many flat owners had expressed the desire to continue to stay in the project, they are ready to repair and rebuild. “In case any Tower needs to be re-built, each flat owner who opts for this offer will receive a flat of the same size and layout as the flat owned by them at present. Furthermore, considering the exponential increase in price of building material and labour, we will charge a nominal amount of Rs 1000/- per sq.ft (super area) which shall be paid in easy instalments. In light of these two options, from which all flat owners of Towers D, E and F are free to choose, we will discontinue payment of rent for all alternate rental accommodation provided by us for the flat owners w.e.f 30/04/2023,” it stated.
J N Yadav, Senior VP, Chintels, said in a statement, “As the well-being of our customers is of utmost importance to us, we have given these two options and we are confident that many of the residents will be satisfied.”
The rate offered by the company is higher than the prevailing market rate of several similar projects in the vicinity, Yadav said.
You May Like
Photos
