"Ashoka Paradise (Not)"

Review On Lancy Constructions, Mangalore

Beware of Lancy Constructions!

First let me give a brief introduction for people who many not be aware:

Lancy Constructions is arguably one of the big names in the construction industry in Mangalore. In fact, they claim on their website to have created many landmarks in cities like Bangalore, Goa, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Hassan, Mysore, Kerala. One of their child ventures is Lan Links Builders and Developers. One of their residential projects is Ashoka Paradise, located at Hoigebail, Ashoknagar, Mangalore.

This review is about Ashoka Paradise. It is spread over about 3.5 acres of land, with six blocks of residential apartments, each having four floors(totally housing about 260 apartments). In January 2014, I bought a so-called "ready to occupy" apartment here, believing the impression that it is one of the best economy housing projects. It was far from ready to occupy, but I went ahead and gave them time till March, thanks to the sheer joy and pride of owning my first house.

However, since a bit of work still seemed pending in March, I had to wait, though my loan repayment period had already begun in February, and I also had to continue paying rent where I had been living till then. Even that I wrote off with complete faith on the builder's reputation. But then in May 2014, when I saw that still some rough edges remained undone(even the interior designer I had contracted in the mean time had done an excellent job and completed his work within the stipulated period), I started complaining to the builder. Immediately the builder's representatives consoled me and encouraged me to take possession at once, with a promise to polish the rough edges off after we took possession.

Thus, I finally moved in with my parents on May 3rd, 2014, and have since come to a very sad realization that Ashoka Paradise is not really an economy housing project, but it is in fact a very cheap, low-quality construction by Lan Links. Even the very basic stuff like the fitting of window frame edges is faulty. One solid kick, and the window frames would fall off. The promises of the builder's representatives have not materialized, and it does not seem that they ever will.

Within two months of taking possession, we had a seepage problem on one wall in the hall. The builder's men agreed to take care of the issue, and dug up a considerable portion of the wall and injected some sort of solution that was expected to resolve the problem once and for all. But the seepage returned after a week. The men wanted to dig up the wall again, but failed to give me any assurances that the problem would receive a permanent resolution. That being the case, I realized they were just ignorant amateurs put in charge of such important service. So I had to refuse to go through the trouble of moving my heavy furnishings and interiors around for them to dig up the wall again without any assurance of a solution. Hence that problem remains unresolved even to-date.

Within four months of taking possession, we were attacked by termite infestation, against which the builder's representatives denied all responsibility. They said they had already treated the land and building against pests and termites during construction, and with that their responsibility ended. Indeed, so I got my home fumigated and walls treated against termites at my own cost. But I'm confident those vermin are multiplying somewhere close by, and will attack again.

Within a year of taking possession, hairline cracks started forming on certain walls, which are visible only if keenly observed. We also learned that the flooring tiles are also of the cheapest possible quality.

Last May when the AC service engineer mounted a split AC in our master bed room, and tried to create a hole just large enough to lead the pipeline from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, a considerable chunk of brick-concrete tumbled off the wall, leaving a gaping hole to the outside. We could only apply a temporary patch with white cement, which to this day has remained as a reminder not to hit any wall with considerable force for any reason.

I could go on and on about Ashoka Paradise, but it would only depress me to talk more about it. To most of us commoners, the pride of being the owner of a home comes only once in a lifetime. To me it came only in my early forties. That being the case, it really pains to be so swindled by a builder.

Ones home is indeed ones paradise, no matter how small or large it may be, so I shall not regret my home. But how I regret the day I entered the offices of Lancy Constructions and believed the rubbish they sold. How I regret rejecting two projects by other builders(one of them my former class fellow) simply because this location was closer to my office and was a bit less expensive.

My final verdict about the builder? Beware of Lancy Constructions!

Note: I'm rating two stars only because it concerns a place I call home. Without the emotion attached, it would be just one star.

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