NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has ceased the electricity and water supply to Signature View Apartments after the court-imposed deadline expired, leaving approximately 51 residents still in the building, according to officials on Monday.
Located in North Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar, this housing complex, constructed between 2007 and 2009 and allocated under a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) scheme by 2011-12, has significantly deteriorated structurally over the years.
“We urge the remaining residents to vacate the premises as soon as possible,” stated Amrendra Singh Rakesh, President of the Resident Welfare Association (RWA). He noted that many residents are having difficulty finding alternative housing after essential services were cut off.
“The Supreme Court has denied their request for an extension to stay, leading to the joint action by the MCD and DDA to disconnect electricity and water on Monday,” an MCD official added.
The Delhi High Court had previously instructed the DDA to ensure the flats were vacated within three months in December 2024 and to provide immediate rent assistance.
The complex consists of around 336 high-income group (HIG) and middle-income group (MIG) flats that have sustained severe structural issues, such as deep cracks in walls and ceilings, raising significant safety concerns. Earlier this year, the DDA issued a tender for the demolition and reconstruction of the apartments.
“While a tender for demolition and reconstruction has been issued, there is currently no update on its status,” a DDA official mentioned.
In 2022, IIT-Delhi conducted a structural assessment of the 12 towers within the residential complex and deemed the structure “structurally unsafe.”
In response to residents’ challenges in 2023, Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena directed the DDA to redevelop the entire apartment complex and assist the flat owners with rehabilitation.
According to the agreement’s terms, the DDA is to provide Rs 50,000 to HIG owners and Rs 38,000 to MIG owners during the period from January 1, 2025, or the date of actual vacation, until possession of the reconstructed property is granted to the owners.
Last week, on Friday, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a plea opposing a Delhi High Court ruling that stated there would be no stay on the demolition of Signature View Apartments in Mukherjee Nagar.
