The dream of owning a modern home in Gurgaon’s Green View project has turned into a nightmare for hundreds of families. Once marketed as a flagship affordable housing complex, the development has become a cautionary tale of regulatory gaps, construction flaws, and broken promises.
Now, NBCC (India) Ltd, the state-owned developer, has applied for approval to demolish six additional unsafe structures in the project located in Sector 37D, Gurgaon. The request is under review by the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), following earlier demolitions of three towers that were declared unsafe in 2022.
Background: From Dream to Disaster
Green View was initially launched with much fanfare, offering over 700 residential units alongside facilities like a school, shopping complex, and EWS (Economically Weaker Section) housing blocks. Buyers, many of them middle-class families and first-time homeowners, invested life savings to secure a place in the rapidly expanding Gurgaon real estate market.
But hopes crumbled when structural flaws began surfacing. Cracks appeared in walls, dampness spread across basements, and safety concerns mounted. Following detailed inspections, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) declared multiple towers unsafe in February 2022, triggering evacuations and demolitions.
The New Demolition Request
NBCC has now asked for permission to raze:
- Towers A, B, C, and D
- Two EWS blocks
- The school building
- The shopping complex
- An underground water tank
This comes after towers E, F, and G were already demolished. With this new request, nearly the entire project faces dismantling.
Buyers in Limbo
The uncertainty has left homeowners grappling with emotional and financial turmoil. Out of over 700 units sold:
- 160 buyers have opted for refunds.
- 78 buyers have chosen reconstruction.
- 17 buyers remain undecided, awaiting clarity from the authorities.
NBCC has pledged to pay monthly rent to displaced families until safe housing is rebuilt, but the adequacy and timeliness of this support remain contested.
One buyer, now living in a rented apartment in Gurgaon, shared:
“We invested all we had in Green View. Instead of a home, we have trauma and rent bills. We don’t know if we will ever get the homes we were promised.”
Regulatory Oversight and Responsibility
The Green View fiasco has underlined serious shortcomings in India’s real estate regulation:
- Quality Control Gaps
Buyers allege that substandard materials and poor construction oversight led to the structural weaknesses. - Delayed Action
Though cracks were noticed earlier, firm regulatory intervention only came in 2022 when towers were declared unsafe. - DTCP’s Role
The DTCP is now tasked with evaluating the new demolition request while ensuring buyer interests are protected. - Licensing
The project’s license, renewed in June 2025 (valid till May 2027), has enabled NBCC to proceed with formal redevelopment plans, but credibility remains under question.
The Bigger Picture: Real Estate Safety in Gurgaon
Gurgaon’s meteoric rise as India’s corporate and residential hub has also brought recurring real estate safety crises. From delayed projects and stalled deliveries to structural safety failures, the region has become synonymous with both aspiration and anxiety.
Experts argue that stronger accountability mechanisms are needed, including:
- Independent structural audits of housing projects.
- Transparency in construction quality standards.
- Financial security mechanisms like insurance-backed guarantees for buyers.
Emotional and Social Fallout
Beyond economics, the Green View case has deeply scarred residents’ faith in developers and regulators. Families who once proudly displayed property papers now speak in terms of betrayal.
Children have been uprooted from familiar neighborhoods, while elderly residents struggle to adjust to temporary accommodations. For many, the idea of home ownership—a cornerstone of middle-class security—has been shattered.
What Lies Ahead
Until the unsafe structures are cleared, redevelopment cannot proceed. The DTCP’s evaluation will determine the pace and scope of demolition, while NBCC must outline a credible reconstruction plan.
Observers believe the case could become a test for India’s housing regulation regime under RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act). If handled transparently, it may restore some buyer confidence. If mishandled, it could deepen distrust in an already fragile market.
Conclusion
The Green View housing project was supposed to be a model of affordable living in Gurgaon. Instead, it has become a symbol of neglect, regulatory lapses, and human suffering.
As demolition looms for six more structures, the question is not just about brick and mortar—it is about rebuilding trust. For the hundreds of families caught in limbo, justice will not be measured in refunds or rents alone, but in the restoration of dignity, safety, and security.
The Green View saga must serve as a wake-up call: housing safety is not negotiable.
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