Old DDA Colonies may get a new lease of life

NEW DELHI: The Union housing and urban affairs ministry is working on a policy to allow redevelopment of old DDA colonies in the national capital, which will pave way for taller buildings with amenities such as parking space and facilities for lifts.

As per the plan, the redevelopment work would be taken up only if 70% or more house owners in a pocket or complex agree to the proposal. Sources said this would be an enabling policy and will be completely up to the house owners to decide whether they want redevelopment.

Officials said the work has just begun and all best options to bring maximum benefits to the existing flat owners are being considered. They added the policy would also have provisions making it mandatory for the entities which would undertake redevelopment works to give rental charges to the families during the construction period. Such redevelopment works may take up to three years.

Sources said dozens of DDA colonies built decades back were low-rise as the FAR (floor area ratio) was less during those times. Now since the FAR has been increased to push vertical development, these complexes will have more dwelling units after redevelopment.

“Now installing lifts in the existing blocks is very difficult as this requires consent from all the house owners in that block. The colonies planned decades back had no provision for car parking as the main mode of private transport those days were two-wheelers. Redevelopment of colonies will meet the current requirements,” said a source.

Currently, almost all common areas including the open space earmarked for parks have become informal parking spaces in DDA colonies and the garages meant for two-wheelers have become store rooms.

Some experts told TOI that the policy, if framed, would need to address the issue of 30% of residents in case they don’t come on board. Secondly, the agencies responsible for infrastructure would need to do their job to meet the demand post redevelopment as there will be more number of dwelling units.