NOIDA: After a delay of more than 10 years, work on Unitech‘s housing projects in the city is set to resume. The move follows Noida Authority‘s approval of Unitech’s revised layout in June this year, in keeping with a Supreme Court order.
The govt-appointed board of the company said on Thursday that a bhoomi puja would be held at The Express City (Unitech Golf and Country Club Grande) project off the Noida Expressway in sectors 96, 97, and 98 on Sunday.
Allotted land in 2006, Express City (UGCC Grande) initially included three residential projects — Amber and Burgundy (group housing), and The Willows 1 and 2, which had plots for sale. While the two housing projects had 638 buyers, 360 people had booked plots in Willow. A total of 818 flats was sanctioned in the housing projects, while another 180 acres remained vacant.
Express City’s original layout — approved by Noida Authority in Aug 2008 — was designed to feature highrise towers around a centrally located 9-hole golf course while possession was set to be given by 2013. The project, however, faced significant delays, and its management was also replaced by a Supreme Court-appointed board of directors in 2020.
Unitech prepared its revised layout between March and Aug 2022, and secured a 70% consent from homebuyers. So now, Amber has 7 towers with 422 flats, Burgundy 7 towers with 395 flats, and The Willows 397 plots in total.
The Authority approved the revised layout on May 30 this year. The new configuration included 49.1% area for residential use, 9.9% for institutional, 19.6% for recreational parks and open spaces, and 21.4% for roads and parking lots.
Former bureaucrat YS Malik, who is the Unitech board chairperson, said the Sunday event would mark a major milestone for the long-delayed project.
“Contractors have already been finalised, which means construction can begin soon. We have invited homebuyers for the bhoomi puja on Sunday. Timelines for completing the projects have been clearly mentioned in the tender documents,” he said.
Malik claimed that the project would be ready before its new deadline.
“For instance, the timeline is 26 months. Since retrofitting is involved, we aim to complete it within 20-22 months. In Burgundy, three towers have already reached 31, 21, and 20 floors, while towers 4 to 7 will start from the ground. Therefore, the timeline is 36 months, which we will adhere to. The deadline for plotted development is 12 months, but our target is to complete it within six months,” he added.
Homebuyers heaved a sigh of relief.
“We are now hopeful of getting our flats and plots in the next year and a half, provided there is no funds crunch or other issues. The original dates of possessions were in 2012-2013,” said Sanjeev Sood, president of the Amber’s Homebuyers’ Association.
A bhoomi puja for another project in Sector 113 is scheduled for the first week of Oct. “Initially, we planned it in the third week of Sept. But homebuyers advised us against conducting auspicious activities during pitra paksha. Therefore, we are aiming for Oct 6. We have already received environmental clearance,” Malik told TOI.
In Sector 113, Unitech launched Unihomes 3, which has 1,621 homebuyers. Of these, 941 homebuyers have sought refunds.
In Sector 117, the company has several projects, including Exquisite, The Residences, Unihomes 1 and 2, Uniworld, and Gardens, with a total of 3,327 homebuyers. Of them, 1,036 have requested refunds. The projects await environmental clearance.
