The Ghaziabad 'early bird' discount myth

My budget was tight, but I committed to a pre-launch offer in Siddhartha Vihar last year, anticipating significant savings. That 'early bird discount' from a major builder proved to be a considerable trap, honestly. The construction-linked payment plan demanded unexpected outlays and concealed charges, which only became apparent in the fine print. I am now evaluating another property, perhaps in Vaishali, but confidence in builders is low. Have others experienced similar issues with CLPs in Ghaziabad? What strategies were effective in mitigating such risks?