DDA gets over 10 lakh applications, all set for dry run for draw today!

New Delhi, Nov 9: DDA has received over 10 lakh applications for the flagship 'Housing Scheme 2014' and it will tomorrow conduct a dry run to check its preparedness for the much-awaited draw of lots.

The tentative date for holding the draw of the lots for the new scheme was November 10, but a senior official of the housing authority said that the exact date would be decided based on the outcome of Monday's trial.

"We are going to hold a dry run tomorrow to test our preparedness for conducting the draw, like the technological elements involved, so as to mitigate any contingency situations on the day of the draw. The exact date for it would be decided accordingly," the official told PTI.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for the first time has also planned to webcast the entire event live on YouTube, and so the run serves as a means to test everything in working conditions so as to avoid any glitches later on. The webcast would be available for "unlimited" number of online users through the YouTube channel.

The scheme, which was launched on September 1 had seen a massive response both online and offline, leading to DDA's website getting crashed within few hours on the opening day itself. The last date for the scheme was October 9 but the date was extended till October 15 later. Till then 7.5 lakh applications were received.

The number rose to 8.5 lakh a few days later as applications from far-flung bank branches reached the DDA headquarters here late.

"The number of received applications has now crossed 10 lakh and that is pretty much the final figure, we would say. People are going online as they can check their application status on our website, where the procedure for conducting the draw has also been uploaded," she said.

The housing scheme offers over 25,000 flats across various categories, ranging from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore. Although about 17 lakh brochures were sold through DDA counters and the branches of its various empanelled banks, officials ascribed the "lukewarm response" to the scheme to the lock-in period and the nature of flats on offer.

"The primary reason for the not-so-overwhelming response, despite selling so many brochures, could be the five-year lock -in period for the ownership of the flats, which we have introduced for the first time.

"Besides, most flats are of lower range, one-bedroom types, so that could be another factor," the official said.

PTI