An RTI reply stated that Vadodara has around 1 lakh of vacant properties. The RTI reply is considered as an alarm-bell for the real estate sector in Vadodara.

Sunset scene from Manjalpur Bridge in Vadodara: Confusion arises over the number of vacant properties.

According to an RTI reply, over 1 lakh of properties remain vacant in Vadodara. Meanwhile there appear no takers for the property, it added. The RTI reply which revealed that there are over 1 lakh vacant properties in Vadodara has been considered as a warning- sign for the real estate sector in the city.

RTI reply was made by the Directorate of Census Operations, Gujarat, to a native of Vadodara. A copy has been sent to the Vadodara Municipal Corporation as well. The RTI reply clearly stated that over 1 lakh properties, precisely 1.02 lakh, were vacant in the city.

According to the reply 3,90,812 residential properties and 85,843 commercial properties fall within the VMC limit. Around 5,056 properties are residential-cum-other properties. The figure that read 1,02,880 vacant properties stood out.

While the Authority is confused over the figure, the real estate developers do not agree with the figure. The builders consider the figure as rubbish and the Authority feels fallen in to an obscure situation.

Confusion aroused over the number of vacant properties in Vadodara

Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI), Vadodara chapter president Mr. Vipul Thakkar put down the figure as absolutely rubbish. He added that the maximum vacant properties in the city would hardly be around 5000 to 10000 maximum.

Mr. Thakkar opined that if the figure were to be true there would have a collapse of the real estate sector in the city. He; admitting the stagnant- nature of the realty market in the city, said that the figure would not be true under any circumstances.

The figures with the revenue department also supported the view of Mr. Thakkar. The revenue department figures show that there are around 14,000 vacant properties in the city. R M Patel, assistant commissioner (revenue) of VMC, said that the tax was paid for only 14,000 vacant properties in the city.

An official in the VMC said that the officials who conducted the census might have counted the locked ones as vacant. Another official said that there figure might be of the entire district sometimes. The numbers of vacant properties include both sold and unsold properties which are not used currently.