Delhi-NCR stuck with highest unsold housing inventory: Report

Inventory of residential premises and commercial estates has risen between 18-40 per cent in different cities with maximum unsold stock lying in Delhi-NCR, creating a drag on linked sectors like financial services and steel, a report said on Thursday.

The study by Assocham observed that in spite of a fall in prices and interest rates, demand for residential market has witnessed a steep decline by 25-30 per cent whereas the demand for commercial space dropped by 35-40 per cent in Delhi-NCR region over the last year.

"Mumbai, which had been witnessing an increased activity around Navi Mumbai, Thane and other suburbs, is carrying the second largest inventory, followed by Bengaluru and Chennai. "While Mumbai had unsold inventory of 27.5 per cent, for Bengaluru it was 25 per cent, Chennai (22.5 per cent), Ahmedabad (20 per cent), Pune(19.5 per cent) and Hyderabad (18 per cent)," the paper noted.

It said the NCR residential market has an estimated 2,50,000 units of unsold inventory which is approximately 35 per cent of the units under construction due to delay in regulatory clearances and litigations.

"The ticket price of three-bedroom, two-BHK and single room flats has seen correction by 35 per cent in Noida, 30 per cent in Gurgaon and 25 per cent in some key areas of Delhi. Still, the demand stays subdued," the paper said. This year, the unsold inventory in residential real estate was the highest in Delhi-NCR at 2,50,000 units, followed by the Mumbai metropolitan region at 98,000. Bengaluru came next with 66,000 units, Chennai with 60,000 units and Pune followed with 55,000 units.

The subdued construction activity has had a huge negative impact on the labour market since there are about 10 to 12 million workers engaged in the real estate sector. The slump in sales and launches clearly indicates that the residential market is facing a strong price resistance, it said.

Total number of new project launches in National Capital Region (NCR) has come down by 30-35 per cent in comparison to the last year, said the Real Estate report.