NEW DELHI: Stating that commercial and institutional development along major roads was a worldwide phenomenon, the Tejinder Khanna Committee appointed by the Centre has recommended that Delhi's major market hubs like South Extension, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, parts of Lajpat Nagar and other such areas that have faced the Municipal Corporation of Delhi hammer should be designated officially as commercial stretches or strips.

In another major relief, the Committee has stated that flexible land use in residential areas of pre-Master Plan for Delhi-1962 be allowed without rigid restrictions regarding the floor from which they operate or the minimum size of the plot and minimum width of appurtenant road except in cases of serious public inconvenience noticed by the proposed Delhi Urban Regulatory Authority (DURA).

Similarly, for major commercial hubs and markets that have been facing an uncertain future, the Committee holds out a lot of hope.

It is of the view that certain stretches, which have been practically fully commercialised along inner Ring Road such as South Extension Part I and II and where non-residential use has been in existence for many years, may be formally designated as a commercial stretch.

The same treatment could be extended to other similar stretches along major roads that have got substantially commercialised over the past many years. At the same time, appropriate conditions to safeguard public convenience should be imposed on the owners and users of such premises. In the event of their failure to meet those conditions within a reasonable time frame, that permission for change in land use could be revoked.

Apart from this, the major beneficiaries would be commercial areas and posh markets like parts of Greater Kailash, Rajouri Garden, Tilak Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Kamla Market, Rani Bagh Market, parts of Rohini Sector 1, 2 and 3 and most of the markets including wholesale markets located in the Walled City.

On the issue of additional floor, it is learnt that there was a division within the Committee on what should be the final verdict on this issue. While Bharatiya Janata Party representative Harsh Vardhan was for allowing one additional floor without any pre-condition, some other members opposed such a move.

The Committee has recommended that an additional floor could be allowed in cases where the building is retrofitted and provides parking facility in the basement of the building.

All the floors that have come up illegally should be regularised only after payment of a heavy compounding fee to be decided by the proposed DURA.

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