eGovWatch: DDA plans smart city, flats for senior citizens in 2015

A smart “world-class” city in Dwarka, exclusive apartments for senior citizens, a financial hub, electric buses for Delhi and erecting the city’s tallest building are among DDA’s major plans this year.

The ‘smart city’ envisioned by DDA will be a complete sub-city, which would be located in an area of 20-24 hectares, zoned out of Dwarka, Rohini and Narela, and will be equipped with latest technologies and waste-management techniques.

“The smart city will have a world-class infrastructure, 24-hour power supply, complete wi-fi connectivity, and will employ green technology and latest water conservation like rain-harvesting and waste management techniques, among other facilities,” DDA Vice-Chairman Balvinder Kumar today said.

He said that the land for this project is to be acquired through landpooling, on which the DDA is working. He did not specify the status of the project.
However, sources said that the project is in a “very primitive stage” as of now and has “not reached the drawing board yet”.

The vice-chairman also said that DDA would soon start working on the senior citizens apartment, for which other modalities are also being worked out.

“About 2000 flats are being proposed for citizens aged 60 and above. 800 of them are being planned in Dwarka, while rest in Rohini and south Delhi. We have already appointed a management consultant and on January 15 we are calling in the architect for the design. We are also in talks with the banks to see if reverse mortgaging facility could be allowed to them,” he said.

A separate financial hub in Dwarka on the lines of one in Mumbai has also been planned by DDA in the new year.

“We have already communicated about this to the ministry concerned to declare the space as bounded area,” he said.

“We also plan to bring in cycle sharing project, where through last-mile connectivity, people would be able to use the road through dedicated cycle tracks and park them at metro stations. Besides, we are contemplating on e-buses (electric buses) and study is being currently done by an institute in this regard,” he added.

The East Delhi Hub in Karkardooma in east Delhi, which will be developed in a transit-oriented-development (TOD) mode, will have the tallest tower in Delhi.

The urban body had recently approved the TOD project and a 80-storey iconic building is among the proposed infrastructure, though, Kumar did not specify if the final building will taller than this.

Among other plans DDA has on its agenda this year include a lake city complex around Sanjay Lake in east Delhi, which would be developed on a TOD mode too, with transport and civic infrastructures in the vicinity of each other.

As per landpooling policy, Kumar said, a presentation to the ministry has already been made and a notification is expected from the ministry in 10-15 days.
“From Delhi government side too, we are awaiting decisions on stamp duty, rural and urban villages and on the consolidation front. So, by February we hope to declare the landpooling policy,” he said.

On the diplomatic enclave proposed in Dwarka, Kumar said, “The delay is from the External Affairs Ministry’s side.”
“We have already earmarked the zone for them in Dwarka, but the delay is due to the ground rent issue, as the External Affairs Ministry wants us to exempt that rent,” he said.

Besides, the urban body also seeks to create big open spaces like the “India Gate avenue” and hopes to put into effect the Delhi Greenway Project that would promote green areas in the city.

For new unified urban byelaws, we also expect to get the notification within two months as also for new farm house regulations, to come into effect, he said.
DDA also said that a committee has been appointed to look into the redevelopment scheme of urban markets like Khan Market and Meherchand Market, whereby such properties could be allowed to go hi-rise.

Besides, 800 MIG deluxe flats in Dwarka has also been planned, which would have a dedicated club, among other facilities.