Delhi: Kamla Nagar traders urge DDA to mark area as commercial

NEW DELHI: Traders of Kamla Nagar are trying to persuade Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to change the status of the area from a “rehabilitation colony” to “commercial” after modifying it in its draft Master Plan for Delhi-2041.

The traders argued that the civic body had developed a huge mall at a park located in the middle of the market after getting its land use changed and later it also got the land use of bungalows on Bungalow Road changed for developing commercial complexes.

In the given circumstances, “when everything has been commercialised”, they too should be allowed to get the benefit by changing the land use of the main market, which was established in the 1950s, said the traders in a letter sent to DDA. They are seeking a meeting with DDA officials on this issue.

“In the draft Master Plan 2041, our area has been specified in the list of rehabilitation colonies while no other mention has been done. We are requesting the agency to change the land use of main roads from mixed to commercial category as the majority of them are fully commercialised. We have copies of notices issued by the civic body for not using the property on various roads such as Kamla Nehru Marg for residential purposes as these are commercial ones. North Delhi Municipal Corporation has already changed the land use of various properties to develop commercial complexes in the area,” said president of Kamla Nagar Traders Association Nitin Gupta.

Traders have also stated that the area which falls under the list of rehabilitation colonies under MPD 1962 should be exempted from conversion and parking charges.

In a notification issued by DDA in June 2018 it was stated that areas developed prior to 1962 like Lajpat Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Tilak Nagar, Kamla Nagar or such other colonies which existed prior to MPD-1962 but were not included in the master plan (subject to documentary proof) having concentration of commercial activities, may continue subject to conditions prescribed under the mixed use regulations. The amendments also include having a uniform floor area ratio (FAR) for shop-cum-residence plots and complexes, at par with residential plots. “Now that the ground situation has been changed, we want DDA to give permission for declaring certain roads fully commercial,” said Gupta.