The WestBengal Housing Infrastructure Devlopment Corpn. Ltd (HIDCO) was set up as a Government Company in April, 1999. Though this Corporation has a statewide mandate; its immediate focus area is the development of a planned town near the City of Calcutta. This Corporation has been given wide powers to acquire and sell land, develop the entire range of infrastructural services, construct housing and commercial premises and also to maintain the New Town till such time a regular body is established for the delivery of such services.

The New Town, Calcutta is planned on 3075 Ha. Of land situated within 10km. from Calcutta's Central Business District and about a kilometre from the International Airport. When fully developed, the new Town will provide homes to about 7.50 lakh people (1.50 lakh families) and cater to a floating population of about 2.50 lakh. The New Town is being planned as a major hub for business, trade, industries, institutions and culture. Though it is planned as a self-contained nodal growth centre, the New Town will be integrated fully with the future spatial/functional structure of the metropolis. The close proximity to Bidhan Nagar (Salt Lake) town will be an added advantage.

The New Town aims at providing sufficient buildable land for the construction of dwelling units for all income groups, with particular emphasis on the low and middle income segments. It will have high quality infrastructure like wide roads, bridges, large public open spaces including water-bodies, educational institutions, medical facilities, sports and cultural facilities, in addition to basic infrastructure like water supply, power supply and drainage. Proper connectivity to and from the rest of the metropolis has been specially emphasized. A new major North-South arterial road with a six-lane divided carriageway is proposed. It will pass through the heart of the New Town and will connect it with the Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarani just off Baguihati on the one hand and Sector-V of Bidhan Nagar (Salt Lake) across the Krishnapur canal on the other. There is also the possibility of an effective water transport system finally taking shape once Krishnapur canal is made navigable all the year round.
The New Town will have several town level activity focus areas such as a new CBD, major sports complex with world class facilities, a technology park, a central recreational park around the new CBD located in the heart of the New Town, a permanent exhibition/trade fair ground, a large institutional complex including a civic centre, an environment-friendly industrial complex, super speciality hospitals, business schools, technical university and an entertainment centre.

HIDCO has taken up the development of the New Town in phases. Action Area-1 of Phase-1 is located on 640 Ha. land between the Bagjola and Krishnapur canals, close to Salt Lake City and has been linked by a six-lane bridge over the Krishnapur canal. This bridge will form part of the proposed North-South major arterial road. The Action Area-1 has been further sub-divided into 4 sectors viz. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, with the following board land use pattern:-

With the object of enabling the needy and vulnerable sections of the society to acquire a house/flat of their own at affordable cost, HIDCO intends to allot plots in Action Area-1 to individuals and Co-operative societies. Details of plots and prices are given below:

Payment Schedule as proposed

Discount for early payment
The corporation will give 7% discount on the price of plot of land if the full land price is paid within 60 days of issue of the letter of offer.

Penalty for delay in payment
If installments as scheduled above are not paid in time, the applicant will pay delayed payment charge at 17% interest p.a. If a particular installment is not paid in time, the Managing Director of HIDCO may consider extending the date of payment by maximum of 60 days for clearing the default, failing which the allotment will automatically stand cancelled.

Corporation's Liability
If, however, the possession of plot is delayed by the Corporation by more than 6 months from the scheduled date of possession, the Corporation shall pay interest on instalments already paid by the intending allottee during such extended period, at prevailing fixed term deposit rates for similar periods offered by the State Bank of India.

Possession of plots will, however, be handed over to the allottee on execution of the Agreement. The Agreement will be executed only upon the full payment of the premium plus any interest accrued thereon as well as the execution and registration of Deeds.

Withdrawal and Forfeiture conditions

Other Terms and Conditions
Tenure
* The plots will be sold on leasehold basis for 99 years in the case of
  LIG category, which are being offered at subsidised prices. The lessee
  will be required to pay lease rent of Rs. 25 per cottah per year.
* The plots for MIG and HIG groups will be allotted on freehold basis.

Reservations
The HIDCO will follow reservation/quota system in respect of allotment of
residential plots as under:
* Ex-Serviceman/War Widows/Serving Defence Personnel/Members of
  Paramilitary forces - 2%
* Project affected persons whose land (not dwelling houses) has already
  been acquired by HIDCO - 3%
* Chairman's quota - 5%
Total Reservation - 10%
Regarding first two categories above, the applicants would be considered under the general category first and those who are unsuccessful will be considered under the respective reserved quotas. For this no separate application would be necessary.

Other important guidelines
* One applicant/family can apply for one plot only.
* In case there are not enough applicants for the reserved quota, the plots remaining unalloted will be allotted to the general applicants.
* Except for Chairman's quota, all plots will be allotted by draw of
  lots in the presence of applicants.
* Plot eligibility rules, as explained hereafter will apply.

Special Scheme
A minimum of 15% of the total plots in each category are offered for those who are willing to make full down payment within 60 days of issue of offer letter whether in Indian currency or in acceptable foreign currencies. In this scheme, enhanced application money would be payable as under:
* 20% of the plot price in case of individual plots.
* 25% of the plot price in case of Co-operative Housing plots.
HIDCO will make all efforts to service this scheme.
In case of excess demand, the allotments will be made by the draw of lots. Unsuccessful candidates will be eligible for the lottery in the general category without separate applications.

Plot Eligibility
* The applicant must have completed 18 years of age and shall be
  competent to contract under the Indian Contract Act of 1972.
* Fulfilling income eligibility criteria as already indicated before.
In case of Co-operative Societies, each and every person intending to be a member of such Society shall fulfill the above conditions on the date of application to the HIDCO together with conditions as laid down in the West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act 1983 and Relevant Rules 1987.

Mode of Disposal
The Corporation will dispose of plots by open advertisement in various newspapers (both vernacular and English) and allotments will be made by draw of lots in the presence of applicants willing to remain present.

Transfer of plot
In case of LIG categories, transfer/sub-division/ sub-lease/sublet/assignment of plot will not be permitted for a period of 5 years. The Corporation may consider thereafter transfer on merit as per stipulation in the agreement/lease deed.

Provision for mortgage in case of leased land
The allottee on payment of full land price and other charges outstanding, if any, may with the previous permission of HIDCO create a mortgage on the demised land as security for loan to be raised by him from any RBI/NHB recognised financial institution, State and Central Government for construction purpose.

Joint/Associate Membership
Joint application will be permitted but within the members of the same family.

Development and Building Rules
Development Rules and Building Regulations would be prepared by HIDCO in due course and the same would be binding upon all the allottees/lessees. Construction period and related matters would be governed by the Building Bye laws of the New Town.

Maintenance and management of New Town
After allotment of plots, the maintenance of common areas falling within the 
will be looked after by the allottee/allottees. HIDCO will develop and maintain external services such as roads with street lighting, drainage, sewerage, water supply, parks and gardens. HIDCO will maintain these services till such time the project area is handed over to a duly set up local body. Till such time the services are maintained by HIDCO, the Corporation will collect service charges (in lieu of Municipal tax) from the allottee at rates to be fixed by the Corporation from time to time. The allottee will be required to pay such service charges in agreed periodicity as may be determined by HIDCO regardless of the extent of benefit the allottee may derive from such public amenities. The service charges will be payable from the date of possession of the plot.