1. Hello everybody! We are back once again giving you the latest of what is happening in AWHO.
2. Firstly the big news. Our Congratulations to the VCOAS, Lt Gen Deepak Kapoor,PVSM,AVSM,SM,VSM,ADC, who has been nominated as the COAS Designate. Though there was never any doubt, but hearing the announcement brings the assurance. As the future Patron of AWHO we are sure we will receive his full support and guidance.
3. We indeed are very grateful and thankful to our present Patron, Gen JJ Singh, PVSM,AVSM,VSM,ADC, COAS, for sparing his valuable time in guiding AWHO during his tenure as the COAS. He has been very kind and supportive in all our endeavours and encouraged us to move forward with the times. With his continued assured support AWHO has been able to take bold decisions and move ahead. On account of his encouragement we are today one of the best construction agencies in the country. The Jai Jawan Awas Yojna was the brainchild of the COAS and we have implemented it in letter and spirit. The JCOs and Jawans have greatly appreciated the scheme and all our projects are oversubscribed. We thank the COAS for projecting the idea and giving the soldier a reasonably priced roof over his head. All Ranks of the Army will remember the COAS for this benevolent deed. Our best wishes to the General on his retirement on 30 Sep 2007. All of us here in AWHO and all our clients wish the COAS a happy and satisfying retired life.
4. Now the HOT News of Dwarka. The Foundation Stone of the Dwarka project was laid by the COAS on 15 May 2007. We have approximately 6 acres of land in Sector 23 and another 4 acres in Sector 22. The Spot Scheme was advertised on 13 May 2007 and has closed on 13 Aug 2007. Approx 21000 brochures were sold and 17589 applications have been received. The bulk of the applications came in during the last week of Jul and the first two weeks of Aug. We received almost 1200 to 1500 applications a day - mostly by hand. You can imagine our plight in handling such a rush. We had to open two counters at the Kashmir House entrance gate itself to receive the applications as so large a rush was not manageable inside our office and also posed a great problem for the Security Staff. As can be seen from the above there is a heavy demand for the scheme. For a total of 648 DUs there are 17589 applications which means a ratio of 1:27. Never before have we ever received such an overwhelming response. There have been large number of applicants for the Pent Houses, the bigger one being in greater demand. Out of the 3 bed room units, the Super Deluxe Apartments had a greater share of the applications.

5. It will now take us approx two months to go through all the applications and check the various criteria laid down. Thereafter a Board of Officers will be detailed by the AG's Branch to conduct the final draws. The draws will be held in the conference room of AWHO. All registrants who are in Delhi during that time are welcome to attend the draws. The draws will be held in full transparency in front of the registrants - as has always been the POLICY of AWHO - which credit we take.

6. Meanwhile the plans for construction have already been submitted to the DDA. The Urban Arts Commission has cleared the plans and the scheme is now gone for clearance to the other departments. We hope to issue the tenders soon and start construction by the beginning OF THE NEXT YEAR.

7. Construction of Gurgaon Sector 49 Project, is proceeding as per schedule. The Sample Flats are ready for all to see. People have praised the quality and finishes of the Sample Flats. We have received many encouraging remarks about the quality of our project from the visitors. The Sohna Road area is on its own becoming a busy township, what with huge and lavish complexes and Malls coming up in that area. The Metro is ultimately going to come upto Sohna Road, which is very close to our Project. Lucky are the people who will be the proud owners of a dwelling unit in a wonderful complex having its own Club, Swimming Pool, Tennis Courts, Community Hall, Shops and Nursery Schools.

8. Greater NOIDA Project is also on schedule. We hope to start handing over the houses of Phase I by the year end. Construction of Phase II is also well underway. For Phase III the revised plans have been passed by the Greater NOIDA Authorities and we are awaiting for a few more clearances. We hope to start construction by the end of the year. Work on the Taj Express Way, and construction of other flyovers, which had been earlier stalled, has commenced once again. The area is slowly getting inhabited. Other institutions like Army Institute of Management Technology, DPS Greater NOIDA and a number of Engineering and Management Colleges are already functioning. Either the Metro or the Monorail is being planned for Greater NOIDA. Communications thereafter will become very convenient. The Airport near Greater NOIDA is once again in the news. This will add to the prestige and importance of the area. Congratulations to the proud allottees. You will have a magnificent complex - a mini township in itself - with about 2800 families residing.

9. Construction at Goa is well underway. Once construction of our project started, another private builder, whose project has a common boundary with us, has also started development works. There is a construction boom generally in Goa and land prices and prices of flats have suddenly shot up. Since we have a large demand we are on the look out for more land. The new highway to Belgaum, which passes right in front of our project, has come up well and there is plenty of traffic on this road now. Many complexes along this highway, near our vicinity, will be coming up soon. The scenic beauty from our site is excellent with the Mandavi River in view.

10. Pune (Hadapsar) Project is now nearing completion. We plan to start handing over in Dec this year. Planning of Phase II is on. The plans have been submitted to the Municipal Authorities for approval. The authorities insisted on first handing over the Amenity Area, duly demarcated, to them before they clear the plans. This has now been done.

12. Our project at NOIDA sector 82, is being finally pushed for completion. Extra efforts are being put by the contractor to complete it by end of this year. We are regularly monitoring the progress and are very concerned about the delay in completion. We hope the long wait will now ultimately end, and plan to start handing over by Dec this year.

13. The Jai Jawan Awas Yojnas have taken off in a big way. As you are all aware it was the idea of Gen JJ Singh, PVSM,AVSM,VSM,ADC, COAS. He had tried out the concept in the Maratha LI Centre in Belgaum by construction of a sample house at a reasonable cost, for which keen interest was shown by the Jawans. The first of such projects was started in Jaipur, the foundation stone of which was laid by the COAS on 07 Oct 2005. The project having 84 DUs is now complete and the inauguration has also been done by the COAS on 31 Aug. Since the demand for Jaipur was overwhelming, the second Jai Jawan Awas Yojna was also opened in Jaipur itself. Construction started on 14 Dec 06 and we hope to hand over the DUs by Dec 08. This project also has 84 DUs.

14. The third Jai Jawan Awas Yojna has been opened in Pune. The COAS laid the foundation stone on 12 Sep 2007. 195 DUs are being constructed over 3 acres of land. This project is adjacent to the main AWHO project in Pune (Hadapsar). Again the response has been overwhelming and the project is oversubscribed. Thereafter the COAS was kind enough also to lay the foundation stone of the fourth such project at Belgaum on 14 Sep 2007. We have approx 7 ½ acres of land there and about 500 DUs will be constructed. For more such projects, land has been acquired at Bathinda (4.9 acres), Allahabad ( 2.26 acres), and Secunderabad (7 acres). At Allahabad the plans have been approved and the scheme has already been advertised and applications are coming in. We hope to start construction by beginning of next year.

15. The Lucknow project is also proceeding as per schedule. The area has now become very prestigious. Plans for a Shopping Mall right next to our colony have already been sanctioned. Prices around the area have risen considerably. The project when completed will become a boon to the Phase I residents also, as they will ultimately have a club of their own for their functions and get togethers.

17. We have put in lots of efforts for buying land at Mohali. After running around for 3 years, we have ultimately tied up with the ANSALS API for purchase of approx 30 acres of land for group housing in their project at Sector 114 in Mohali. These are the new sectors sanctioned by the Punjab Govt. This Sector lies on the road from Banur to Kharar and the plot is in between Village Landran and Kharar. ANSALS own Hotel and Shopping Malls are coming up in this Sector. Opposite the area an artificial lake and a golf course have been planned by the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA). Also across the road the Sectors are for institutional areas which means job opportunities after retirement and also enough takers for houses on rent. The Mohali International Airport is also in the news. The Chandigarh - Ludhiana Rly line passes behind 114 Sector and a ring road is planned between 114 Sector and the Rly line. This ring road is going all around Mohali and connecting to Chandigarh. Hence connectivity to all sectors of Mohali and Chandigarh will also be good.

18. Sometimes back the Kendriya Sainik Board Meeting was held in Delhi which was chaired by the Raksha Mantri, and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was the chief guest. Chief Ministers and Governors of various States, and their political representatives and the bureaucracy, attended the meeting. During the meeting the COAS had emphasized on the issue of land, specially for the Jai Jawan Awas Yojnas. There was favourable response from all concerned and we hope it gets translated into definite results.

19. We have approached Maj Gen BC Khanduri (Retd), Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, to give us some land in Dehra Dun, Haridwar and other hill areas. Let us hope we are successful. We have requested the Army authorities in Dehra Dun to kindly help and approach the Chief Minister for allotting us the land. Recently the COAS also met the Chief Minister in Dehra Dun , and Maj Gen Khanduri (Retd) has promised 5 acres of land each in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions.

20. Capt Kanwaljit Singh (Retd) Hon'ble Minister Defence Service Welfare, Punjab, has also agreed to help in getting us some land in Punjab in the big cities. We are confident that something will come through.

22. The Home Minister of Nagaland Mr Thenucho has now written to the RM to have some AWHO projects for the Jawans in his State of Nagaland. He has promised Govt land in Dimapur. We are in touch with HQ 3 Corps to follow up the case.

24. A word of caution to our allottees of both old and new projects. Lots of property dealers are hoodwinking our clients. They are taking money from the allottees, who want to sell their flats, for progressing their papers in AWHO for obtaining NOCs. They are spreading the word that with payment to staff in AWHO their work will be done faster. We would therefore like to convey to one and all that AWHO does not deal with property dealers. In fact they are not allowed to enter AWHO premises. So don't get carried away by their glibtalk and fall prey to them. Talk to us directly if you have any problems in sale/purchase of property. Also large number if allottees who want to sell their DUs come to us on their last day in Delhi and insist on immediate action to give them the NOC. Please remember there are procedures for all these actions, so do give us some time - unless it is absolutely urgent.

25. Our clients may also please remember that AWHO works under rules and regulations, which are laid down by the Board of Management. AWHO does not make any rules on its own, and we strictly go by what is laid down. So kindly bear with us when we insist on certain issues/procedures/documents which are required as per the laid down rules/legal procedures.

26. In the end let me assure our clients that AWHO is doing its very best to provide them a modern, spacious and well constructed flat of very good quality. Minor hiccups will always be there in such large projects costing hundreds of crores of rupees. Also clients may kindly remember that AWHO designs cater for majority of the public and do not cater to any specific category of people. We have received words of praise for our efforts and quality of construction. We have also received suggestions where we can improve further which we highly appreciate. While most of our projects are on time, a few of them are behind schedule - like NOIDA 82 and Panchkula. These projects were contracted when market prices were low. Now due to sudden increase in prices of construction material and labour these projects are a losing proposition to the contractors. Similar projects in other departments have come to a standstill and have been cancelled. We are still pulling our projects through in AWHO.

27. As we have reiterated earlier, AWHO is the best bet for buying a house. Your money is absolutely safe with us and you can be sure of the quality of the ultimate product which you will get. Having lived all our lives in the fraternity of people in OG uniform, in retired life too, you will be amongst the known crowd. AWHO complexes are being well managed by the welfare societies, and are in great demand for rental purposes. Security is very good in these complexes. Single ladies specially look for houses on rent in AWHO colonies. Therefore decide where you want to settle down and join the waiting list for that station. All the best then. Wishing you all and your families GOOD HEALTH AND PROSPERITY. Adieu.