India Trade Promotion Organisation
Dated: April 24, 2017
PRESS NOTE
The redevelopment plan of Pragati Maidan is a project of national importance and envisages setting up of a world class iconic state of the art Integrated Exhibition and Convention Centre (IECC) with latest modern architectural design. It also includes a comprehensive traffic decongestion plan including an underground tunnel passing through Pragati Maidan, and making Mathura Road signal free, with a basement parking facilities (sic!) for 4800 vehicles. IECC project goes beyond Pragati Maidan. The work for redevelopment of Pragati Maidan is time bound in nature. Such a venture of international standards is in sync with India aspiring to be a global power. The RFP for IECC has already been floated by NBCC on 23.03.2017 with 21.05.2017 as the last date of submission of bids for selecting the vendor/contractor.
Execution of IECC requires dismantling of Hall No. 1 to 6, 14 to 20 and State Pavilions etc. including Hall of Nations, Nehru Pavilion and Hall of Industry (sic!). Hall of Nations, Nehru Pavilion and Hall of Industry were constructed in the year 1972. These structures are not classified as heritage buildings.
Earlier a PIL and two writ petitions filed by India (sic!) Institute of Architects in the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi were dismissed. Presently, a writ petition by INTACH is pending in the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi. The Hon'ble High Court on 20th April, 2017 has dismissed another writ petition filed by Shri Raj Rewal seeking to declare and preserve Hall of Nations, Hall of Industry and Nehru Pavilion as work of art of national importance. An appeal has been filed against the dismissal, but there is no stay granted by the Hon'ble Court in any of the writ petitions against demolition of structures envisaged in the re-development of Pragati Maidan.
The Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), the statutory body of experts, decided in its meeting of 02.02.2017 that only those buildings which are at least 60 years old can be considered for inclusion in the heritage list.
The layout plan of IECC, which inevitably involved demolition of these structures, has already been approved by the concerned statutory authorities like Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and National Monuments Authority (NMA).
In view of the redevelopment plan of Pragati Maidan, Hall No. 1, Hall of Industry (Hall no. 2, 3, 4 and 5), Hall of Nations (Hall No. 6), Hall Nos. 16 and 20, State Pavilions of Haryana, Nagaland, Assam, Rajasthan and Central Ministries Pavilions like Defence, Health and Rural Development have been dismantled by NBCC from time to time. The dismantling work of remaining structures is in progress for smooth time bound execution of IECC.
