North MCD plans to come up with its own civic centre

National Capital is likely to get another swanky civic centre as the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has been planning to construct a similar structure over more than one lakh sqm land in Azadpur area. Besides this, the cash-strapped Corporation has also decided to develop nearly 2.5 lakh sqm land for commercial purpose. With these initiatives, the Corporation is all set to generate revenue by using the unused sites and exploit for commercial potential.

“The Corporation may become financially sound and even may not require financial help to meet out its obligations. Though the plan is in the initial stage but efforts are being made to materialise it,” said Renu K Jagdev, Additional commissioner (Revenue). The Corporation has planned to develop a total of 10 sites located at Azadpur, Model Town, Dhaka, Minto Road, Land of Idgah slaughter in the Walled City, Kashmere Gate, Karampura, etc. The first six sites, comprising nearly 2.5 lakh sqm land, will be developed by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) while the remaining four, comprising over one lakh sqm land, will be developed by the Corporation itself.

The civic agency informed that the NBCC is likely to construct a civic centre-type structure at Azadpur as there is a huge chunk of vacant land. “We have nearly 1.01 lakh sqm land at the area where a civic centre can easily come up. If we succeed to finalise the plan, the Corporation will earn at least Rs 100 crore per month. The other sites, which will be leased/rented out for commercial purposes/offices/residential activities which will give the exchequer a boost of over hundred crore,” said another official.

As per the negotiations, the NBCC will bear the entire cost of construction and will charge interest of 15 per cent of the total expenditure. The company will charge 7 per cent for Project Management Consultancy (PMC) and 1.7 per cent as marketing charges on total lease/rent consideration. “As we have constructed one or two-storey buildings at these sites, we want to develop them for commercial activities. If things go well, North Corporation will meet its expenses from itself,” said the official.