GURUGRAM: The Haryana Rera has mandated that Chintels India pay over ₹4 crore to a homebuyer from Chintels Paradiso, holding them accountable for significant construction flaws that rendered the project unsafe, as reported by Rao Jaswant Singh. This decision follows multiple inspections after the tragic collapse of Tower D on February 10, 2022, which resulted in the deaths of two residents and revealed serious structural deficiencies throughout the complex.
The complaint was lodged by Aruna Garg, a resident of Delhi, who purchased a 4BHK flat in Tower C for over ₹1.8 crore, exceeding the original sale price.
After taking possession in October 2019, Garg began reporting issues such as cracked tiles, uneven flooring, and damage in balconies and common spaces. The order specified that these issues were communicated to the developer multiple times but remained unresolved.
The case gained considerable attention following the Tower D incident. Investigations and structural audits, including those conducted by IIT-Delhi, discovered extensive corrosion in the steel reinforcements of several towers. This deterioration was attributed to chlorides that had seeped into the concrete during construction. Experts determined that the damage was so severe that repairs would neither be technically feasible nor economically practical.
In a ruling on March 30, Rera’s adjudicating officer Rajender Kumar stated that the allottee was not at fault for the defects and emphasized that it was solely the developer’s responsibility to build the project according to established standards. Rera noted that buyers had been assured of construction adhering to “international standards,” yet the project was rendered unsuitable for habitation.
The authority reviewed two primary options for affected buyers—either compensation or reconstruction. However, the developer was resistant to reconstruction, and Garg disputed the suggested compensation benchmark of ₹7,500 per sqft, arguing it did not reflect current market conditions.
Rera acknowledged that property prices in Sector 109 had surged significantly between 2022 and 2026, recalculating the compensation to ₹13,000 per sqft. Consequently, Garg was awarded ₹4 crore, which includes the amount already paid for the flat.
Additionally, the developer is required to refund ₹4.6 lakh for stamp duty, pay ₹2 lakh for mental distress, and ₹50,000 for legal expenses. However, Garg’s requests for compensation for rental losses, EMI burdens, delays in payment, and increased damages were denied, as Rera indicated that the market appreciation had already been factored into the final compensation.
The developer must pay interest at 10.8% annually from the date of this order until the full amount is settled. When approached for a comment, a spokesperson for Chintels stated, “We have not received any official order yet. We can comment only once we obtain it.”
