The Hindu : New Delhi News : MCD recommends notification of roads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

MCD recommends notification of roads

Staff Reporter

New list to be sent to Government for nod

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Tuesday recommended 355 new stretches on as many roads across the Capital for notification under mixed use, commercial and pedestrian shopping streets categories, paving the way for legalising commercial activities in residential premises.

The list will now be sent to the Delhi Government for approval before the notification is issued by the Lieutenant-Governor.

Of the stretches cleared at the MCD Standing Committee meeting, 104 have been recommended for commercial use, 167 for mixed use and the remaining 84 for use as pedestrian shopping streets where no vehicular traffic will be allowed.

The zone-wise break-up is: Central (54), Civil Lines (83), Najafgarh (64), Narela (5), Rohini (20), Shahdara (North) (17), Shahdara (South) (31), South (25) and West (56).

However, in view of the recommendations of the new Master Plan for Delhi-2021 to maintain status quo in certain areas including the Walled City, Sadar Bazar, Paharganj and Karol Bagh, three municipal zones -- City, Karol Bagh and Sadar Paharganj -- were kept out of the exercise.

Violation

The BJP Standing Committee member Vijender Gupta said the survey for identification of the new stretches had not been carried out in accordance with the new set of guidelines prescribed in the Master Plan-2021 and the recommendation also violated the model code of conduct in force for the upcoming civic body polls in the city. Terming the recommendation as a mere "eyewash", Mr. Gupta said the ruling party should ensure the notification of the roads.

Reacting to the development, Delhi State Election Commissioner S. P. Marwah said the Commission was keeping an eye on the business being transacted at the Standing Committee meetings of the MCD and appropriate action would be initiated if the model code of conduct were violated.

"The everyday business of the municipal body should not be hampered, but any violation would be strictly dealt with," said Mr. Marwah.

Confusion over sealing

Meanwhile, confusion prevailed over resumption of sealing drive in the Capital. Though the ruling party is not in favour of resuming the drive till the MCD polls are over, the Municipal Commissioner had reportedly directed the Zonal Deputy Commissioners to be ready for sealing action.

"We have reiterated to the MCD what the Supreme Court has told us. But there has been no response from the municipal officials," said a member of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee.

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