People to start inhabiting Tata flats in August

Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure has announced that people would start shifting to the flats built by Indian conglomerate –Tata – in Gaakoshi and the land where Arabiyya School used to be – in August.

In answer to a question posed by “Sun”, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that work on the two flats had been completed and handed over to tenants.

Muizzu said that he was confident people would start shifting there is August.

“The places are complete. We are doing the contract work so that tenants can shift there,” said Muizzu.

He noted that the electrical work by State Electric Company (Stelco) was not complete yet, but that, that too will be complete by end of July.

Tata Housing undertook the project after setting up a joint venture company with Apex Realty and SG 18 Developers.

The project has total 319 apartments in the two 11-storey buildings.

Some of those who applied for the flat in Gaakoshi were given their letter of ownership back in former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration, and the rent prices for the apartments were announced during former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed’s administration.

It was announced at the time that the rent price for a 3-bedroom apartment was MVR 9,725 and that tenants had the opportunity to pay back the full price for the apartment within a 20-year period.

However, Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure sent a letter to the tenants this year, announcing that they were required to pay back the full amount for the apartments – MVR 2 million – within 5 years. And that tenants for the flats would be re-evaluated based on the ability to make the payment within the required period of time.