Analysts say that many builders funnelled money from one project and put it into others leading to the debacle. (Reuters photo)
For many people like Brigadier Rakesh Dhir, who have managed to scrape together enough for buying a home in or around Delhi, the dream has turned into a nightmare over the last few years.
Having retired from the Army, Brigadier Dhir had booked a flat in with Parsvnath Developers in Greater Noida, near Delhi.
He gathered his savings and took a hefty loan to pay almost Rs 60 lakhs to the developer in 2008. The flat was to be handed over in 2012.
But four years on, he's still waiting. Brigadier Dhir pays Rs 48,000 every month as monthly instalments which is more than his Army pension.
Brigadier Rakesh Dhir says his family thinks twice about using the heater in the winters.
Stretched to the limit, life threw another test at him when his son met with an accident in 2012 that left him with reduced mobility.
"I am paying for medical expenses as well and the EMIs (Equated Monthly Instalments) which have not stopped. All of this is coming out of my savings. What will I do when they run out?" said Brigadier Dhir.
But even at the cost of drastic adjustments to their lifestyle, Brigadier Dhir said that he has not given up hope. He, along with several others like him, has taken the developer to court.
Parsvnath says it is trying to complete the tower where Brigadier Dhir has booked his flat and hand over possession this year.
A real estate association however says 2016 will be the "year of deliveries". (Reuters photo)
"The economic slowdown has had an impact on industries across sectors and the real estate sector has been no exception. The
slowdown along with ternary factors have acted as a roadblock in the pace of construction and they'd there have been delays," the company said in a statement to NDTV.
Last year, a survey by realty analyst PropEquity estimated that construction of 4.8 lakh flats were running at least 29 months behind schedule.
Analysts say that many builders banking on a bull run on property used money from one project and put it into other projects leading to the current financial crunch.
Manoj Gaur, the president of a real estate developers association CREDAI-NCR, said, "
It's a tough time for developers especially in Noida and Greater Noida. (But) last year 50,000 flats were handed over to buyers in Noida. This year another 50,000 will be completed. 2016 will be delivery year."