Maharashtra: Flop realty project in Raigad threatens thousands of buyers

With around 20 more complaints filed with MahaRERA in the past two months another housing project appears to be turning into a debacle threatening thousands of buyers Projects by Xrbia Developers Limited who promised possession in 30 months in Neral Vangani and Madap Khalapur have been stuck for several years Unhappy buyers who moved MahaRERA several months ago are yet to get a date for a hearingRajesh Gupta a Malad resident said he was attracted by advertisements of Xrbia which surfaced around 2014 and wanted a bungalow plot as a second home The developer had promised a gated community in Xrbia Express City in Khopoli Woods Madap Khalapur in Raigad districtA plaque near the siteldquoI booked a bungalow plot measuring 1500 sqft builtup against a consideration of Rs 12 lakh I am paying EMIs of Rs 21000 even today The developer had to level the land get water power and drainagesewage connectivity in approximately 30 months But nothing happened at the siterdquo said Gupta who never got the property rights as per date dommitted in 2018 There were talks of getting bungalows constructed on the plot for an additional Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore or getting one built by a private contractor but things never moved forwardAlso read Residents fume as Panvel project turns dream homes into health hazardFailed reconciliationIn 2020 Gupta decided to exit the project and approached the MahaRERA After a failed reconciliation process due to the developerrsquos absence the case went for judicial proceedings ldquoThe MahaRERA dismissed the case in June 2022 saying I did not file all documents The order said that I could file my complaint with the requisite documents againrdquo Gupta saidldquoI filed another complaint in July 2022 In August 2022 I was again asked to choose between reconciliation and judicial proceedings and I chose the latter After that one hearing was scheduled in November 2022 which was adjourned as builder did not attend the hearing After that my case never came up for a hearing and I continue to wait for the daterdquo Gupta saidJohn Dantis with his wife Merlyn outside their building in Xrbia WaraiDue to sudden health issues Gupta was forced to take early retirement Investing in another project in Chembur further worsened his financial situation ldquoI blocked funds in an SRA project in Chembur That got stuck too The SRA appointed a new developer to complete the project but my payment was made to the previous developer So I donrsquot know whether I will get my flat or a refund I am in a financial fixrdquo Gupta saidDeserted complexJohn Dantis 62 from Andheri East had a tempo business Considering the longterm prospects of property in Neral and Vangani which are close to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport Dantis and his daughters invested their savings with the maximum share coming from the daughters One flat was booked in Vangani mdash approximately 170 sqft for over Rs 7 lakh and one in Warai in Neral mdash 340 sqft for Rs 12 lakhldquoMy wife Merlyn and I are the only ones living in a groundfloor flat in Xrbia Warai having over 43 buildings and 2000 flats Many buildings are partially constructed We have to depend on villagers for any help If this continues for a few more years this will become a haunted placerdquo said DantisWork haltedldquoAll construction work at Xrbiarsquos Warai and Vangani projects has come to a halt We hear that the developer is unable to repay the loan taken from a corporate entity They are unable to pay the security guards and gardeners who are villagers from this areardquo Dantis saidRajesh GuptaDantis added that Xrbia Warai is a concrete jungle with no water supply or OC ldquoWe have to rely on well water During medical emergencies at night we have no one to count on as there is no transport available We rely on the guard who is a local and ferries us to Neral where there is a private hospitalrdquo said Dantis Such an emergency came recently when in the middle of the night Dantis experienced difficulty breathing The security guard rushed him to Neral station to get medicinesldquoI am worried and feel sorry that my two daughters who work very hard invested all their savings in Xrbia projects We have lost all our money While the developer gave possession of the flat in Neral my daughters are yet to get possession in Vanganirdquo Dantis saidDelays worryingAdvocate Anil DrsquoSouza secretary Bar Association of MahaRERA who is representing many flat buyers who invested in Xrbia projects before MahaRERA said ldquoIn the last two months we filed around 20 more cases against Xrbia Many of our cases have not received a date of hearing for two years It is worrying that MahaRERA which started with zero cases in June 2017 finds itself logjammed The state government must step in and revamp the Maha RERA management under Section 82 power of government to supersede authority of RERA Actrdquo