Buyers protest flat delay in Sec 69 project outside builder's office

GURGAON: Tired of waiting for flats they booked over four years ago in a residential project in Sector 69, a number of disgruntled buyers protested outside the developer's office in South City I on Saturday. Raising slogans against the developer, the protesters, many of them young couples, said it was getting difficult for them to pay monthly instalments of their booked flats as well as steep rents of the houses they are living in.
Most protesters said they had already paid a large share of the cost of the flats, valued between Rs 30-40 lakh, at Unitech's Sunbreeze. They alleged they had been promised delivery in 2012. "I have already paid Rs 36 lakh, which is 85% of the flat's total price, but possession is not expected any time soon despite the developer assuring possession in 2012," said Arun Arora, head of financial engineering at a city-based stock brokerage firm.
The disgruntled buyers have formed a group called Sunbreeze Apartment Buyers Welfare Association (SABWA) to communicate with the developer for redress of their grievances. About 70 flat-buyers were present at the protest. Sunbreeze has 700 flats.
"We have protested several times in the past, the last time at the project construction site in February. They only tell us that a few of us will get our flats in December 2015 while the rest in 2016 or may be even later," said Sasha Cruz, a flat buyer. The buyers also alleged they were not allowed to enter the developer's office when they went to meet officials there and were stopped by bouncers.
"There is only a single customer relationship manager and there is no one from the company management to listen to our grievances," said Sheena, who had a tough time meeting officials at the company's corporate office.
Sumit Khurana, another buyer, said, "When we come to make a payment, they welcome us and offer tea but afterwards, we are not allowed to even enter the office. They are literally shooing us away by taking the help of bouncers." Police was finally called to help make the two parties reach a compromise, following which a meeting was held between representatives of the buyers and Harish Suri, a senior company official.
Unitech said the matter had been sorted out "for the day" and buyers had been called again early next month. In a statement, it said, "We wish to apprise you that at Unitech, we are totally committed towards our projects and customers. We meet them at regular intervals and update our website periodically to apprise them of the construction stage. We remain committed to address any concern raised by our buyers."