The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhiites shocked by MCD move

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Thursday, Sep 14, 2006
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New Delhi

Delhiites shocked by MCD move

Sandeep Joshi

`Large-scale commercialisation would destroy the very character of their colonies' `Commercialisation would destroy the very character of their colonies'

NEW DELHI: The list of 1,979 roads and streets announced by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for inclusion in the commercial and mixed land use categories has left many residents shocked as they fear that large-scale commercialisation would destroy the very character of their colonies. Many are now planning to move out of Delhi to the nearby planned townships of Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.

At a time when the Delhi Government is talking about making Delhi a world-class city ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010, residents are now beginning to question the unscientific way adopted by the civic body in preparing the list by ignoring the ground realities. They fear that it will make life miserable for residents of those areas and roads that have been given a go-ahead for commercialisation.

For Sushant Rakshit, who has been living in posh Safdarjung Enclave area for the past several years, the inclusion of roads near his residence in the commercial category has come as a rude shock. "I have seen how this peaceful residential area was gradually converted into commercial one by blatantly violating all rules and regulations. Safdarjung Enclave now has illegal showrooms, office complexes and workshops. Even complaints to the MCD and the Delhi Government has failed to bring any relief to the residents," he rued.

Several of Mr. Rakshit's neighbours have already moved out to either Noida or Gurgaon and now he too has started scouting for a property in Noida. "Noida is a planned city where the civic authority has earmarked separate commercial areas and penalise those who try to open shops in residential areas. At least we will be able to live in peace and not have to fight for parking space and civic amenities," Mr. Rakshit added.

There are many more residents in different parts of the Capital, particularly in South Delhi, East Delhi and West Delhi, who are also planning to move out to the neighbouring townships or to a housing society. "The MCD is adamant on converting almost all plotted areas into either commercial or mixed land-use category. Earlier all properties in my area were purely residential, but gradually builders and traders purchased them and converted them into commercial ones," said Muzzafar Iqbal, a resident of Malviya Nagar.

All major areas nearby including Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, Greater Kailash, South Extension and New Friends Colony have gradually lost their residential character, leading to a majority of its original residents moving out to some other place. Similar is the case of other residential areas in the Capital including Preet Vihar, Pitampura, Janakpuri, Raja Garden, Tilak Nagar, Karkardooma, Kingsway Camp, Rajouri Garden and Vasant Vihar where residents are helplessly watching the conversion of residential areas into commercial hubs.

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