The Hindu : New Delhi News : Alaknanda development on fast track finally

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Friday, Jul 28, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Alaknanda development on fast track finally

Staff Reporter

Land lying vacant since 2002 when DDA removed 5,000 jhuggis

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority has directed its planning and architecture wings to speed up development of a seven-acre plot in front of Jahapanah Club and behind Aravalli Apartments at Alaknanda on which the Capital's biggest "Baraat Ghar" and first commercial area with a three-tier parking are proposed to be constructed.

The land has been lying vacant since 2002 when DDA removed over 5,000 jhuggis from the site and rehabilitated the slum dwellers at Madanpur Khadar. At that time it was decided that a commercial complex would be constructed at the site. However the local MLA, Subhash Chopra, and Councillor, Virender Kasana, had demanded that other community facilities be also provided as the area already possessed three markets.

It was then decided that 50 per cent of the plot be earmarked by DDA for public purposes. Under the plan, a commercial complex with multi-level parking was to come up on half of the plot. The remaining half was to have been used for a "Baraat Ghar'' which would be the biggest in Delhi with a spread of half an acre. Besides, three other commercial complexes were to have been developed at the site.

The other facilities planned at the site included a coffee home, a government dispensary, a post office and a mini petrol pump.

Though the plan had been prepared three years ago, Mr. Kasana, who is also a member of DDA, lamented that so far the project has not even been started.

"In the meetings, I have raised the issue several times, but every time DDA says the file is pending with the Delhi Urban Arts Commission. This has been going on for over a year now.''

Stating that in the last meeting DDA Vice-Chairman Dinesh Rai had taken a strong note of the issue and directed the officials to come out with a concrete proposal, the DDA member said the next meeting on the issue has been fixed for August 17.

On the proposed plan, he said, it holds a lot of significance for the residents of the 15 apartments that constitute Alaknanda, which had started coming up in 1982-83.

"Though there are about 8,000 flats in these apartments -- which are named after rivers and mountains such as Tara, Mandakini, Godavari, Ganga, Shivalik, Aravalli, Cauvery and Narmada to name a few -- the area has been getting a step-motherly treatments all through.''

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