Pune: A growing number of 778 citizens in Pune, who had applied for shop plots under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), find themselves in a state of impatience as they await the return of their substantial 10% deposits, amounting to a total of Rs 9.5 crores. These applications were declined for various reasons, and despite more than a month passing since the original application deadline, the deposits remain unreturned, causing widespread discontent among the affected citizens.
The PMRDA had initiated a plan to grant leasehold rights for 120 shops in House Scheme No. 1 and 2 at Peth No. 12, offering an extended lease term of 80 years. The initial application deadline was set for July 12 but was later extended to July 24. An e-auction was held on August 22 to allocate the available shops. While initially, 84 shops were intended for distribution, due to the withdrawal of bids by some applicants, only 79 shops will now be allocated. The remaining shops will be open for future applications.
The PMRDA has initiated the process of refunding the deposit amounts to the affected citizens and aims to complete the refunds in phases over the next 15 days. Each citizen will receive one demand draft (DD) for every two shop applications submitted. However, complications have arisen in some cases where applications were submitted in one name while the demand draft was issued in another, adding complexity to the refund process.
The delay in returning the deposit amounts is attributed to the need for issuing financial orders and ensuring that all relevant matters are rigorously reviewed and validated. PMRDA officials have acknowledged the delay and cited adherence to financial protocols as the reason for the holdup.
The delay in the refund process has left many citizens frustrated as they await the return of their significant deposits. PMRDA officials have assured that they are working diligently to resolve the issue in compliance with financial protocols.
