Ref: IIANC/2020/Govt/Jan/01

To:

Commissioner-cum-Secretary
Delhi Development Authority
‘B’ Block, Vikas Sadan
New Delhi 110023

Date: 18th Jan 2020

Re: Public notice by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in ‘The Hindustan Times’ of 21.12.2019 regarding modifications proposed by DDA to Zonal Development Plan of Zone ‘D’ (for plot nos. 1 to 7) and Zone ‘C’ for plot no: 8) inviting objections and suggestions from the general public within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of public notice. File No. F.20(12)2019/MP dated 21.12.2019

Dear Madam/Sir,

With reference to the above notice and details provided therein, there is a loss of at least 80 acres (32 hectares) of land currently earmarked in MPD 2021/ZDP Zone D directly or indirectly for the general public through ‘recreational, public, semi-public, parking, bus terminal’ ‘land use’ on account of its proposed amendment to ‘government-office’ ‘land use’.

This loss of land for the general public as per public notice is as follows:

  1. 15 acres of bus terminal/parking/recreational use (Plot No: 1) -proposed Govt Office
  2. 9.5 acres of Recreational (Plot No: 2) -proposed Parliament House
  3. 5.88 acres of public and semi-public facilities (plot No: 3) -proposed Govt Office
  4. 22.82 acres of public and semi-public facilities (Plot No: 4) – proposed Govt Office
  5. 4.5 acres of public and semi-public facilities (Plot no: 5) – proposed Govt Office
  6. 22.82 acres of public and semi-public facilities (Plot No: 6) – proposed Govt Office

In terms of Recreational Space alone the loss in plots 1, 2 & 7 is approx 20 Acre while the addition is only 3.76 Acres in Plots 4 & 6.

Further, the notice provides no details of compensatory allocation of land to recreational/public/semi-public land use for which reason it is surmised that no such provision is made.

The detailed point wise Objections/suggestions are tabulated below -

Objections:

S. No. Location Area (in acres) Land use as per MPD 2021/
ZDP 2001
Land use Changed to Boundaries Suggestions/Objections
1. Plot No. 1
Located on church road near DTC Central Secretariat Bus Terminal, New Delhi
15.0 MPD-2021 -Transportation (Bus Terminal/ Parking) Govt. Office North: Church Road
South: Rashtrapati Bhavan and North Block East: Part of North Block West: Rashtrapati Bhavan
Due to the increase in Govt. Office space, additional transportation services shall be required. Thus, an alternate site needs be provided for the removed Bus/Terminal with additional space as per Master Plan norms.
ZDP Zone-D, 2001 Part-Recreational (Neighbourhood Play Area)
Part-Transportation (Bus Terminal/ Parking)
Due to the increase in Govt. Office space, additional recreation space shall be required. Thus, an alternate site needs be provided for the removed Recreational space with additional space as per Master plan norms.
2. Plot No. 2
Opposite to Parliament house
9.5 Recreational (District Park) Parliament House North: Red Cross Road
South: Raisina Road
West: Parliament of India
An alternate site needs be provided for the removed Recreational space as per Master plan norms.
3. Plot No. 3
Located on south of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road and houses National Archives
7.7 Public and Semi Public Facilities Govt. Office (5.88 acres) and Recreational (District Park) (1.88 acres) North: Dr Rajendra Prasad Road
South: Green area and Rajpath East: JanpathWest: Shastri Bhavan
Due to the increase in Govt. Office space, additional Public and Semi-public facilities shall be required. Thus, an alternate site needs be provided for the removed Public and Semi Public Facilities with additional space as per Master plan norms.
4. Plot No. 4
Located on South of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road and East of Janpath
24.7 Public and Semi Public Facilities (SC) Govt. Office (22.82 acres) and Recreational (District Park) (1.88 acres) North: Dr Rajendra Prasad Road
South: Green area and Rajpath East: Man Singh Road
West: Janpath
Due to the increase in Govt. Office space, additional Public and Semi-public facilities shall be required. Thus, an alternate site needs be provided for the removed Public and Semi Public Facilities with additional space as per Master plan norms.
5. Plot No. 5
Located on east of Man Singh Road and South of Ashoka Road
4.5 Public and Semi Public Facilities (SC) Govt. Office North: Ashoka Road
South: Green area and Rajpath East: C-Hexagon West: Man Singh Road
Due to the increase in Govt. Office space, additional Public and Semi-public facilities shall be required. Thus, an alternate site needs be provided for the removed Public and Semi Public Facilities with additional space as per Master plan norms.
6. Plot No. 6
Located on North of Maulana Azad Road and East of Janpath
24.7 Public and Semi Public Facilities (SC) Govt. Office (22.82 acres) and Recreational (District Park) (1.88 acres) North: Green Area and Rajpath
South: Maulana Azad road
East: Man Singh Road
West: Janpath
Due to the increase in Govt. Office space, additional Public and Semi-public facilities shall be required. Thus, an alternate site needs be provided for the removed Public and Semi Public Facilities with additional space as per Master plan norms.
7. Plot No. 7
Located on North of Dalhausi Road near South Block
15.0 MPD-2021-Government office Residential North: South Block
South: Dara Shikoh Road East: Part of South Block West: Rashtrapati Bhavan
 
ZDP Zone-D-2001 Recreational (Neighbourhood Play Area) ZDP Zone-D-2001 Recreational (Neighbourhood Play Area) Please define Recreational area being converted to Residential Zone

We would also like to draw your attention to the Master Plan of Delhi 2021 Section 8.0 Item 8.1 which is not sought to be changed and thereby the proposed changes seem to be in violation of the Master Plan of Delhi 2021.

(Quoting 8.1 for ready reference)

8.1 DECENTRALIZATION OF OFFICES

As per NCR Plan, no new Central Government and Public Sector Undertaking offices should be located in NCTD. However, the issue of shifting existing Government/PSU offices from Delhi as well as restricting the setting up of new offices would only be possible after a time bound action plan is prepared together with suitable incentives and disincentives.

It is clear in the policy document that no new Central Government offices should be located in NCT of Delhi Suggestions:

In view of the points mentioned above, it is requested that the details sought are made public before proceeding with the proposed Land use changes that seem to be conflicting with the Master Plan of Delhi – 2021. Please also share if any study has been undertaken to assess the impact of additional pedestrian and vehicular traffic this change of land use will cause.

Your response to the above is awaited. Regards,
Yours Sincerely,

Ar. Shamit Manchanda
Chairman, Northern Chapter, IIA