DDA presents budget estimate of Rs. 9,000 cr.

With a target of adding one lakh houses in Delhi by the end of 2016, the Delhi Development Authority recently presented its budget for 2015, estimated at Rs. 9,000 crore.

The budget was presented at the DDA's board meeting on Monday by Member (Finance). The main areas of focus, as delineated in the Budget, will be on construction of houses, development and disposal of lands, better infrastructure, expansion of greens and other miscellaneous activities.

It is to be noted that the Minister of Urban Development wanted the DDA to construct one lakh houses by the end of 2015. However, the DDA promised to deliver these flats by the end of 2016.

Also, the DDA is now focussing on building flats with smart and modern designs, besides a housing scheme for senior citizens and green buildings.

The DDA recently rationalised and slashed the conversion charges for 80 markets, including Sarojini Nagar, Khan Market and Green Park, from Rs. 89,094 per sq. m. of built-up area to Rs. 22,274 per sq. m.

The DDA said these shopping-cum-residential areas were constructed much before the 1962 Master Plan Delhi. In the 2001 Master Plan, these areas were declared as local shopping centres. Residential portion of the market, over a period of time was being used for commercial purposes, necessitating change of use. It was allowed, subject to payment of conversion charges of Rs.89,094 per sq. m., through a notification dated July 10, 2012. These were found to be very high and therefore were slashed.

The DDA also approved to de-notification of colonies falling in particular development area and the building activities there would stand transferred to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. The colonies which fall in these development areas are Mianwali Nagar, Paschim Puri, Nagin Lake Apartment, Ekta Enclave, SBI Colony, Shubham Enclave, Adarsh Apartments and six others. The matter will now be referred to the Land and Building Department of the Delhi Government.

THE HINDU