The abandoned flats in the satellite cities of Noida and Greater Noida are virtually giving various areas a look of a ‘ghost city'.

It looks like an apocalyptic wasteland or somewhat a movie set of sorts for a post-disaster scene. The abandoned flats in the satellite cities of Noida and Greater Noida are virtually giving various areas a look of a 'ghost city'. It is estimated that more than 100 residential high-rise towers of various projects have been abandoned by the builders.

Abandoned towers The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) of Uttar Pradesh has asked the Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna authorities to calculate the exact number of projects, which are in the 'abandoned' category where the builder or promoter has either fled or landed in jail without completing the project.

At each such site, there are a couple of security guards deployed to prevent theft of iron TMT bars and other construction materials. As the night falls, old-school 60 watt tungsten bulbs enlighten a small area where the security guards sit, while the rest of the building remains in dark.

The flats are constructed, but the elevator is missing and interiors are not done. One can move in easily if these small constructions are completed, but for now, such projects are home for small rodents and wild animals. There are a number of snakes, mongoose and rodents residing in the dark basements of these projects.

"We are in a process to count the exact numbers. Our primary responsibility is to take care of the projects that were launched after induction of RERA, however, there are a number of complaints against pre-RERA projects that are being inspected as well," said Abrar Ahmad, secretary, UP RERA.

Earlier this week, the RERA had de-notified nearly 40 projects of the Amrapali group as it has been abandoned by the builder. The number of projects is not the real count of societies; it is the number of registered buildings under the RERA. The condition of abandoned flats is deteriorating with rusted TMT bars, erosion and corrosion during the monsoons.

At the Amrapali Dream Valley, where thousands are awaiting possession of their flats, but not a single flat or bungalow has been completed. Here the nature is slowly taking over. Over 10-feet-tall trees have grown between the houses and the basement.

Abhishek Kumar, president of the Noida Extension Flat Owners' Welfare Association (NEFOWA) says, "The number of abandoned projects are rising. Now the number of flats and towers that are abandoned are close to the size of a small city. Despite induction of RERA, homebuyers have to run pillar-to-post to get possession. There are a number of orders from RERA against the builders asking them to pay the fine, but since the builders are either absconding or in jail, those orders cannot help the homebuyers anymore."

Amrapali Dream Valley, Airwill, JNC Park, Vedantam, Shivalik, Earth Infra and many other projects have been incomplete since 5-10 years in the localities of Noida, Greater Noida West (Noida Extension) and Greater Noida. The RERA's initiative to get the details of each abandoned tower has not been completed yet.