The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has proposed the development of 14 new housing projects in its budget for financial year 2018-19. A lion’s share of the budget is earmarked for housing and land development projects. The total estimated expenditure is Rs. 8032 crore, and as much as Rs. 3633 crore is expected to be incurred on construction of flats and shops. DDA has also earmarked Rs. 2348 crore for land development and Rs. 765 crore for acquisition of land and payment of enhanced compensation.
Budget receipts for 2018-19 have been set at Rs. 5197 crore, having increased by 52% over the revised estimate of 20170-18 which was Rs. 3637 crore. According to a DDA spokesperson, the estimated receipt of Rs. 5197 crore was expected to be chiefly from disposal of houses and shops, disposal of land and miscellaneous receipts.
He also added that a request for proposal for the development of the vacant area available at Dwarka, Rohini and Narela has been floated, with the aim of transforming Delhi into world-class city. He mentioned that in the budget estimate for 2018-19, 15 new development schemes and 14 new housing and related development work have been introduced.
Further, DDA also has plans to construct 5 socio-cultural centres at Rohini, Dwarka, Shahdara, Mayur Place and Netaji Subhash Place. The authority has also undertaken the development of 62 acre of land surrounding the Sultangarhi Tomb Conservation Complex in Vasant Kunj and upgradation of Vasant Udyan at Vasant Kunj. Allocation of funds for the rejuvenation and restoration of Yamuna also features in DDA’s plan.
Revised modalities for enhanced FAR
According to a spokesperson, the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 recommended enhancement of the floor-area ratio (FAR) and ground coverage of commercial centres. This was aimed at optimal utilization of commercial land. However, stakeholders were not showing sufficient interest in availing the enhanced FAR, maybe because the process is very lengthy and cumbersome.
DDA has now decided to make the proceeds of availing of enhanced FAR easier by making the process completely online-based. For this, a fixed factor/quotient of enhanced FAR shall be put on the website, as confirmed by an industry insider. Further, there is a provision of 5% additional ground coverage in MPD 2021 to promote public parking.
Flats for CISF
Since there were few takers for its one-bedroom flats, DDA had decided to allot these to central police forces as quarters. The initiative also aims to allot 794 flats to the Central Industrial Security Force. Out of these, 574 are at Sector 34 Rohini and 220 at Siraspur. A DDA official states that their primary aim is to allot flats to the general public but since these flats have been surrendered by those who had been allotted, in two subsequent housing schemes, DDA had decided to allot them to paramilitary or central police forces. He confirmed that there is adequate stock of LIG flats in hand a share of it will be allotted to CISF.
