As Indore races towards metropolitan status, a simmering controversy over flat sizes has sparked concerns among buyers and activists alike.
With a population of over 4 million, Indore has grown beyond its urban core to encompass four tehsils—Mhow, Depalpur, Sanwer, and Indore itself. The city boasts institutions like IIT and top medical and engineering colleges, strong transport connectivity by air, rail and road, and proximity to the industrial hub of Pithampur, home to over 1,000 factories.
This growth has turned Indore into a hotbed for real estate investment. Dozens of colonies are cropping up each month across both urban and rural areas. While plots and farmhouses remain popular in the outskirts, high property prices within city limits are pushing many towards flats in multi-storey residential complexes.
But as demand grows, so do complaints. Discerning flat buyers are raising red flags over what they call misleading area claims by builders. According to them, builders are charging for more area than they are delivering.
Take for example a flat with a 1,500 sq ft carpet area. Buyers allege they are being charged for 2,000 sq ft, with builders claiming the extra 500 sq ft accounts for “super construction”—including parking and shared premises. Buyers argue that the actual usable shared area does not match this claim.
In buildings with 100 flats, each owner is charged for an extra 500 sq ft. That means a total of 50,000 sq ft of super construction should exist. But on inspection, buyers say the actual super area is barely 5,000 sq ft. Effectively, each flat owner gets only around 50 sq ft of shared area, yet pays for 500. The remaining 450 sq ft, they claim, is a fictional construct used to inflate prices.
Buyers also allege that registration offices fail to verify these discrepancies. Spot verifications, they say, should confirm the carpet and super area actually delivered. Instead, registries rely solely on the builder’s word, leaving customers at a loss.
What citizens now demand is transparency.
Builders must clearly declare in writing the actual carpet area and real shared space being charged under the guise of super construction. They call for immediate intervention by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) to curb this practice.
Activists want a city-wide audit of all high-rise buildings in Indore. They insist that any builder found overcharging for imaginary super area should refund the excess amount to flat owners.
As Indore grows, its real estate must be built not just on concrete, but on trust.