GHAZIABAD: The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) has been appointed to manage the long-anticipated redevelopment of Tulsi Niketan, which has been classified as an ‘unsafe’ colony for almost six years.
On Monday, a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), designating NBCC as the project management consultant responsible for overseeing construction in the housing complex. According to GDA Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, the redevelopment will occur in two phases under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with an expected completion timeline of three years.
Constructed by the GDA in the 1990s on 7.8 hectares, the colony consists of 2,004 Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats and 288 Lower Income Group (LIG) flats that have fallen into disrepair due to years of negligence and encroachment. The colony has witnessed several incidents of structural failures, including a tragic incident in May where a portion of a balcony collapsed, resulting in the deaths of a 25-year-old man and his 5-year-old nephew.
In February 2019, experts from the engineering department of Jamia Millia Islamia conducted a safety audit of Tulsi Niketan, recommending the immediate demolition of most flats. They reported that 90% of the units were in a dilapidated state, while the remainder were superficially maintained but still unsuitable for habitation. Redevelopment attempts since 2019 have faced challenges, primarily due to residents’ reluctance to vacate.
Earlier this year, the GDA sought expressions of interest from firms for the redevelopment project. However, besides NBCC, no other developer expressed interest. The authority indicated that the total saleable area for the project is approximately 58,500 sqm, with a land cost of Rs 84.2 crore. The builder must ensure a minimum premium payment of Rs 25 crore to the GDA.
“The financial evaluation includes costs for GH-1 land, commercial space, and dispensary land, totaling about Rs 24.2 crore. This leads to a sale rate of Rs 78,100 per square meter for the builder, amounting to Rs 7,260 per square foot. Since no other developers came forward, we may proceed with NBCC for the redevelopment,” stated Singh.
