Housing, commercial complexes part of pilot old Delhi redevelopment project

NEW DELHI: North Delhi Municipal Corporation has planned to create a model residential tower and a commercial complex as a pilot project to carry out redevelopment of old Delhi areas. Two sites were selected and a special area redevelopment plan was submitted to the Delhi government’s urban development department on Tuesday, a senior official said.

“The commercial complex will come up at Peeli Kothi near Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg, while the residential tower has been proposed at a site behind Town Hall near Dangal Maidan,” the official added.

Another official said that while the Master Plan-2021 had the provision of a special area redevelopment plan under which the corporation was supposed to start allowing amalgamation of plots to minimum of 3,000 sqm for their redevelopment as a complex to reduce congestion and fire hazard, but it could never materialise.

“This was to be incentivised by allowing extra floor area ratio (FAR) for redevelopment by private sector. The plan was again taken up after the Anaj Mandi fire tragedy. In the last meeting, LG had asked us to set up pilot for this project,” the official said.

Instead of looking for a complicated process of amalgamation of plots owned by private players, the civic body has proposed the sites, which are largely owned by corporation, along with some portions where offices of DJB and BSES have been running.

“They have been made stakeholders in the project and meetings have been held in this regard. The process got delayed due to the pandemic,” the official said.

The residential site currently houses a DEMS (sanitation) office and its adjoining properties between Shanti Desai Marg and Sushila Mohan Park behind Dangal Maidan. “The adjoining property of BSES is 1,776 sqm and BSES will get benefit of 225 FAR under this proposal. A minimum area of 3,000 sqm is required to avail the benefit of 1.5 times the permissible FAR,” the official explained.

The proposed site area is 3,478 sqm, while the redeveloped property will have covered floor area of 6,548 sqm. The proposed new structure has height of 38.95m with multi-storey building commercial units on ground floor, community facilities on first floor and basement parking, the report states.

“The parking area will be able to accommodate 73 vehicles for commercial and residential units. The redevelopment will provide more office space while reducing fire hazard,” the official added.

The civic body has also incorporated a small portion of adjoining Sushila Mohan Park in the site but the greenery of the portion will be maintained. The commercial complex scheme has been proposed for Peeli Kothi offices. “In commercial complex, DJB is the stakeholder while rest of the land is under the corporation,” the official said.

“Peeli Kothi is a bit complicated site with V shape but it touches two main roads, namely Naya Bazar Road and SP Mukherjee Road. It will be developed into a shopping-cum-office complex and special provisions have been made for stilt parking and fire tender movement.”