HC pulls up DDA, North MCD over unused freight complex

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the land owning agency DDA and the municipal corporation of north Delhi for not ensuring that traders from the walled city shift to the integrated freight complex (IFC) in Narela, even after plots have been allotted for the purpose.

The purpose of the IFC is to act as a centre for off-loading and picking up wholesale goods by road and rail from and to other states to decongest the national capital.

Concerned over the "wastage of tax payers money" with which the IFC has been set up, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar were of the view that if the markets, including chemical traders, were shifted from central and Old Delhi to Narela, it would decongest these areas.

The court said that allowing chemical traders to continue where they are has led to "disastrous consequences, including overcrowding and congestion" and shifting them and others to the IFC would lead to occupancy of the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) "languishing flats" there.

The DDA said it was the North MCD's responsibility to ensure that those allotted the land shift to the new location.

The court suggested cancellation of the allotments of such persons and shutting down of their businesses if they do not shift to these commercial complexes. It directed them to file a report after the inspection and listed the matter for hearing on December 19.