Whatever promised needs to be met: Dhoni on Amrapali issue

After being trolled on social media by residents of an Amprapali housing project angry over incomplete work, the company's brand ambassador and Indian cricket team captain M S Dhoni on Sunday said he will take up the matter with the builder and it must deliver on its promises.

Replying to questions on  this regard here at a press conference, Dhoni also said it has become difficult for the builders in the current economic scenario.

"But at the same time, whatever is promised irrespective of where they stand, I think it needs to be met," said Dhoni who has been a brand ambassador for the Amprapali group, which has developed a number of projects in the national capital region.

The complaints from the residents of its Saphhire project in Noida, on suburbs of New Delhi, had gone viral on Twitter over the past few days after they tagged Dhoni in their tweets asking the cricketer to dissociate himself from the builder or force the company to ensure completion of the pending work.

The first phase of Sapphire, which was launched in 2009, has been completed and about 800 families have moved in out of 1,000 flats, but civil and electrical work in many towers is still incomplete, according to the residents.

They complained that their demand was not addressed by the management, which forced them to tag Dhoni on Twitter with #AmrapaliMisuseDhoni last week. Fielding queries at his press conference, Dhoni told reporters here, "I would like to keep controversies away... you know at times, you have situation where expectation levels are not met and it's something that keeps on happening, we will see what can be done... we will get in touch with the Amarpali people and see what exactly is happening." "... if you see the economy ways, it is quite tough for the builder as of now. But at the same time, whatever is promised irrespective of where they stand, I think it needs to be met."

Earlier, the Amrapali group had said the issue discussed over Twitter was "nothing and things have been blown out of proportion. All the basic facilities and amenities are working".

"Though there are certain drawbacks which hardly comprise 4-5 per cent of the total project, it shall be completed in the next 90 days," the realty firm had said.

The residents, however, claimed that the civil and electrical work in many towers has not been completed.

The residents' association had said the electrical panels are open, wires are hanging, firefighting equipment, sprinklers and alarms are not functional. There is no maintenance staff for lifts, and neither lift operators. The swimming pool has not been made operational.

The Amrapali residents welcomed Dhoni's response on the issue and said the management will address their concerns.

"We are grateful to Dhoni for having responded to our concerns. It is a matter of great pride that Dhoni is also an owner of a penthouse in this society. We sincerely hope Amrapali management immediately takes up all the pending issues," said R K Srivastava, a resident of Amrapali Sapphire.

The Amrapali management on Friday promised that it would address all concerns of the residents and complete the pending work within 90 days.

"We also thank the Amrapali management for having responded to our anxiety and concerns. We are committed, along with the builders, to creating a wonderful residential complex," added Atul Kumar, another resident.