Alleging undue favours to private builders in construction of upcoming Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects by Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi’s PWD Minister Satyendar Jain has written a letter to Union Urban Minister Venkaiah Naidu. Jain has asked the minister to ensure that the relaxations being offered to private builders are also extended to government agencies.
“It is learnt that at the behest of the private builders’ lobby, DDA has amended the MPD-2021 guidelines and limited the benefits of TOD policy only to private builders and not extending the same norms of higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to the transportation, public and semi-public facility plots owned/operated by the government agencies including the government of Delhi, DDA, Municipal Corporations, DMRC,” complained Jain in his letter written to Naidu on June 29. The contents of the letter were revealed to the media on Tuesday.
The Transit Oriented Development policy which is created by amendment of Master Plan of Delhi 2021 allows the mixed land use of blend of residential, commercial and institutional development within an influence zone of 500 meters on both sides of the Metro corridor on plots of more than an area of a hectare. As per the policy, such projects are to be developed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and DDA had made a special provision for providing significantly higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 400 which will enable vertical construction.
“This policy is not only in favour of private builders but also restricts government agencies to venture into it. It will prevent the Delhi government to address problems of pollution, congestion and shortage of homes for the poor and the middle class,” added Jain.
Contending that such a lopsided approach on part of DDA will undermine the very basic objectives of TOD policy for Delhi to address the growing problems including congestion and shortage of homes for the poor and middle class in the city; Jain demanded that the Central government adopt a balanced approach and allow the Delhi government to venture into the upcoming TOD projects.