Latest Property News on 'Delhi'

500 luxury apartments to come up in Mehrauli

New Delhi: As many as 500 luxury houses are set to come up near Mehrauli in South Delhi, with the Urban Development ministry having sanctioned a major residential-cum-commercial complex here.
The National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), a Central government undertaking, will construct the flats on a plot spread over nearly 42 acres near Ghitorni.

“The flats will be spacious, and will come in different categories, with as many as four bedrooms. They will have all modern facilities and will be priced upwards of Rs 4 crore,” an official said.

Senior officials said they are awaiting final clearance from the Delhi government regarding the land where the flats are to come up, before work can begin.

A portion of the complex will be developed as commercial space. An official said the residential complex will come up on 12 acres.

“A commercial complex will be constructed on another 17 acres of the land, with provision of another five acres for the development of an institution,” the official said.

Can three work better than one?

Fifty years ago, the Municipal Corporation Act of 1957 was enacted and thus came into being the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), after amalgamating 10 local bodies already in existence then. Consolidating a fragmented local government structure, the MCD was established, and today, it is once again being fragmented, in the name of good urban governance.

Delhi is perhaps the only one city, with a unique distinction of having three separate municipal corporations to govern it. What are the implications? One of the arguments that is frequently put forward is that when an organisation becomes too big to handle, it needs to be restructured.

Fair enough. Delhi has crossed the 10 million mark long ago. Catering to the service demands of such a huge population is no doubt a challenging task. As a matter of fact, this has been addressed a decade ago when the decentralisation policy was introduced, quite in line with global thinking, and the MCD was divided into several zones so that civic governance could be delivered better.

Today, however, this concept has been taken a bit too far and the organisation itself has been split. The question that stares in the face today is whether this is a good recipe or not, will the trifurcation work, or will it add further to the already huge mountain of civic woes.

East Delhi across the river Yamuna would now be governed by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and North and West parts of Delhi by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. Each of these three municipal corporations will have its own Mayor, Commissioner and the other office staff. The Delhi Municipal Corporation Amendment Act of 2011 provides for a Director of Local Bodies to coordinate the functions at the government level. The elections have already been held on the 15th of April, 2012 and has paved the way for the three urban bodies to take over.

KEY CONCERNS

There are good reasons as to why this trifurcation is wrought with contradictions and may not work:

The first question that one would ask here is whether we have gone back to the pre 1957 situation when Delhi was governed by several civic bodies. The answer is undoubtedly in the affirmative. One step forward, two backward. There is every possibility for chaos to prevail, since each entity can be ruled by different political parties. Today, we have been witness to difficulties in state-local relations, tomorrow, we are going to see the difficulties in local-local relations. Things can only become more complex.

While the city is one entity, different parts are governed by different bodies. This can lead to problems galore with infrastructure inter-connections passing physically from the jurisdiction of one body to the other. For instance, the garbage of South Delhi Municipal Corporation may have to be carried all the way through North Delhi Municipal Corporation area and dumped in a site located in its jurisdiction. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation would be well within its right to object. This would perhaps the beginning of a series of new litigations that are likely to erupt soon.

The concept of a Director of Local Bodies coordinating several municipal corporations, as is the practice in several states, will not work in Delhi. Here, we are talking of three municipal corporations managing one city, not three separate cities. The Director of Local Bodies would be more of an arbitrator unlike the traditional role expected of the position.

Since each of the three municipal corporations are independent bodies, they will have their own way of working, taxation, etc. and there may not be uniformity in rules and regulations, systems and procedures. This will only add to the complexities of administration.

Intra-city problems would become more complicated. Slum dwellers under one municipal corporation may have to be housed within that corporation limits only as one would not like to take on the problems of the other. Similarly, roads going from one part of the city to the other would also become a bone of contention in terms of who should maintain it.

Some parts of the city may get more property tax collections than the other. This could potentially impact service levels in each corporation. In the earlier scheme of things, it was all going into one central pool. But now, it will remain within one municipal corporation and there could be serious disparities.

Over R1,800 crore of assistance has been given to the three newly-created bodies to develop their infrastructure. A large number of jobs are also to be created in each of the three entities. This is a very expensive experiment in urban local governance.

GLOBAL EXPERIENCE

Normally, one would have expected that such major decisions are debated adequately and the pros and cons are weighed before taking a decision. However, in this case, the Delhi government has taken a decision in haste and pushed it through. Apparently, no exercise in taking a look at the models in existence the world over was ever done.

Are there any examples from where we can learn lessons? Every country and every city has its own peculiarities. Nevertheless, a look at parallel global examples of large metropolitan areas is certainly not out of place.

Tokyo is one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. The Tokyo Metropolitan Area comprises of as many as 23 special wards, each with its own elected Mayor and an overall elected Governor for the Tokyo Municipal Government (TMG).

In the case of London, there is one elected Mayor for Greater London. The other, Lord Mayor, for the inner central London comprising one square mile, is a largely ceremonial position. For all practical purposes, there is therefore only one elected Mayor. Greater London is divided into 33 boroughs or areas for the sake of proper provision of civic services.

New York has a similar structure. It is divided into five boroughs and there is one Mayor and as many as seven Deputy Mayors to assist in various specific areas for ease of administration.

Nowhere have we seen a situation like in Delhi where there are three elected Mayors representing one city and the three municipal governments being coordinated by one bureaucrat. There is now a shift of power from the people to the bureaucracy, ultimately, just the reverse of what is being globally advocated in terms of democracy and local government decentralisation.

The model adopted for local government in Delhi is wrought with many contradictions and will only create more problems for the common man.

As the partition process continues, citizens are worried as to the fate of civic services. Officials working in these organisations also nurture apprehensions of inherent problems related to provision of civic services given the nature of inter-relatedness of the constituent parts, now being separated out.

While politics has had its way, sooner than later, this model is sure to come into further re-engineering as in its present state of organisation, governance would become only more complicated.

Street parking fee issue: Environmentalists happy, rest see red

NEW DELHI: The recent proposal to levy charges for street parking in colonies has divided residents and environmentalists. Reacting to the proposal by the Delhi high court-appointed Special Task Force, residents said the government should improve public transport first. Environmentalists, though, said the move would check the increase in the city’s vehicle population.

“The government should provide better public transport facility before thinking of introducing parking charges in residential colonies,” said Pankaj Aggarwal of Delhi Joint Front. But many residents also admitted that the sharp increase in private vehicles had affected the quality of life in colonies. “There is no space to walk in our colony. In the absence of a good public transport system, people have no option but to use cars,” said Vasant Kunj resident Amit Aggarwal.

Welcoming the STF’s decision, Environment and Pollution Control Authority’s ( EPCA) chairperson Bhure Lal said, “It is a good decision. This will help in bringing down the vehicle load in the city. In Singapore and Japan, people have to show adequate parking space before buying a car. The colony roads (in Delhi) are increasingly being used for parking.”

Against this, residents argued that the government should provide facilities which are on par with those in Singapore and Japan before implementing such “absurd” policies. “In Singapore, it is necessary to show adequate parking space before buying any vehicle, but their public transportation system is in place. Before following this concept, the government should ensure that public transport system is user friendly. The proposal at this stage is absurd,” said Aggarwal.

Residents said imposing new charges was not the solution to the city’s parking woes. “It is a planning issue. Civic agencies, especially the MCD, have failed to provide adequate parking space for the residents as they are interested only in making money. Even now, people pay conversion charges but where did all the money go? The parking lots are still being built. We pay road tax in advance when buying a new car,” said Rajiv Kakaria, GK-I RWA member.

Despite collecting close to Rs 900 crore as conversion and parking charges, the MCD has failed to provide adequate parking in the city. Of its 41 projects, only one has been made operational in the last five years. Residents said the new proposal is just going to add to MCD’s revenue. But according to Bhure Lal, “The money collected from colonies should be used for upgrading the public transport system, improving the roads and ensuring facilities for cyclists.”

Even the parking charges may vary according to the location of the colony. But residents said that even if the civic agency charged high parking rates, people would not stop buying cars.

Even if they charge more than Rs 50,000 it will not deter people from buying cars. People will continue to buy cars as the public transport system lacks connectivity,” said Vohra, president, East Delhi RWAs Joint Front.

Rental of high street locations in NCR up by 9% in January-March

NEW DELHI: High street shopping destinations such as South Extension, Karol Bagh and Connaught Place in the national capital saw up to 9 per cent rise in rentals in the first quarter of 2012, but malls in NCR did not receive much attention from retailers due to paucity of quality space.

In sharp contrast to the high street locations, rentals across the shopping malls in the National Capital Region (NCR) remained unchanged from the previous quarter and incidentally from the last year as well, according to a report by global property consultant Cushman & Wakefield (C&W).

“NCR’s retail market was largely driven by leasing activities on the high streets where retailers showed greater interest,” C&W said.

Rentals in South Extension (I & II) rose by 9.10 per cent, Karol Bagh by 7.7 per cent and Connaught Place by 4 per cent on account of increased enquiries from retailers and some significant leasing activities.

“Malls, on the other hand, continued to see cautious approach by retailers thereby witnessing limited supply and restrictive leasing activities,” C&W observed.

The limited availability of quality space has been dithering retailers to commit to the existing space resulting in vacancy levels remaining unchanged at 28 per cent from the previous quarter, the consultant explained.

C&W tracks retail markets of eight major cities of the country including NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune and Ahmedabad.

Vastrapur in Ahmedabad recorded the highest growth in mall rents at 33 per cent over last quarter mostly owing to renewals of existing tenants at a higher value, while A.S. Rao Nagar in Hyderabad saw highest increase in high street rentals at 26.7 per cent, the report revealed.

“The first quarter of the year has been positive for the retail market and indeed over the last one year. While the mall space has been moving cautiously to ensure that demand to supply ratio remains stable to maintain rental values, the high streets continue to see increased demand and interest from a range of retailers,” C&W Director (Retail Services) Jaideep Wahi said.

Mumbai’s retail market remained largely stable with both high streets and malls rental unchanged over the previous quarter. But, malls at Vashi saw rise in rental by 7 per cent.

In Bangalore, Vitthal Mallya Road was the hot bed for retail action with both high street as well as mall space in the location recording a growth in rental values. High street rentals rose by 25 per cent and mall rentals by 14 per cent.

Kolkata’s traditional high street locations of Park Street, Camac Street and Elgin Street recorded notable rise in rentals on continued interest from retailers. Rental at Park Street was up by 14.3 per cent in the first quarter.

110 Village flats to be auctioned on May 21

New Delhi: For all those who wanted to buy a flat in the Commonwealth Games Village, here’s the chance. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is going to sell tender documents for auction of its two, three, four and five-bedroom flats from April 26 to May 21. They will first auction 110 units to ascertain the market rates for these flats. The reserve price has been kept at around Rs 16,500 per sq ft.
The DDA has around 711 flats with them. “The sale of these documents will take place at Vikas Sadan, INA. While we will receive the documents till 3 pm on May 21, the tenders will be opened by 3.30 pm the same day. Any person who has attained the age of majority can apply. The applicant must not,however, own any residential flat or plot in full or in part on leasehold or freehold basis in the urban areas in Delhi in his/her own name or in the name of their spouses or in the name of minor or dependent children,’’ said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar. The tender document can be purchased after paying Rs 1,050.

The flats up for auction are located in Towers 1, 4 and 9 and are two to five bedroom apartments varying in size from 1,443 sq ft to 3,405 sq ft. The land agency is planning to give fully-furnished flats.

“We are thinking of selling these flats along with the furniture that was put in during the Commonwealth Games, 2010,’’ said a DDA official. Flat buyers will have to pay extra for parking space.

Central and state governments and their subordinate departments as well as public sector undertakings can also apply. “They can apply for as many flats at they want but in separate tender documents,’’ said the official. NRIs or foreign nationals of Indian origin may also apply. But an individual can submit one tender only.

The Commonwealth Games Village is spread over 27 acres and comprises 34 towers. The developer, Emaar MGF, has already sold its share of 457 flats and several owners have already started taking possession of their flats except for those who own flats in Towers 5 and 15 as the issue of extra floor-area ratio is yet to be decided by the MCD tribunal.

According to sources, Emaar sold its flats at a price ranging from 11,000 to 13,000 per sq ft. The furniture from these flats is being removed by DDA presently, said officials.

“An individual will have to submit an affidavit, letter of intent and application, earnest money deposit, photographs and copy of PAN card. NRIs will have to give copy of individual passport besides other documents. Once the bids are accepted, a communication shall be sent to the successful bidder and the second stage of earnest money deposit will have to submitted within 30 days. A demand-cum-allotment letter will be issued and the allottee will then have to deposit balance premium before getting possession of the flat,” the official said.

Emaar can allot CWG flats, DDA tells High Court

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court was today informed by DDA that it has issued completion certificate to 30 out of 34 towers in the Commonwealth Games (CWG) Village and Emaar MGF, the firm which built the multi-stories, can allot the flats to the buyers.

Appearing for DDA, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Indira Jaising and counsel Ajay Verma told Justice Hima Kohli that the construction company has also paid Rs 16 crore dues and the conveyance deed was executed today so that the Emaar MGF can now allot 392 flats, which are in its share, to the purchasers after they complete the formalities.

Accepting the agency’s plea, Justice Kohli permitted DDA to initiate the process for auctioning of 110 flats spread over three towers (1,9 and 14) for which DDA has invited biddings.

The court was hearing a petition, filed by the CWG flat allottees association, seeking a direction to the DDA to issue completion certificates for the flats so that the private builder can hand over the possession to them.

According to the association, the DDA is in possession of the entire project comprising 1,168 flats in 34 towers, of which 711 are unencumbered flats and no party has any right on them.

The court earlier had said the flats in the complex have remained unoccupied since December 2010 after the Games were over and directed that the DDA and Emaar MGF carry out joint inspection of each flat, including the basement and then issue completion certificates.

Online sanctioning of industrial properties begins

NEW DELHI: The process of online sanctioning of building plans of industrial plots by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which was earlier limited to residential properties, was kick started here today.

Briefing about the scheme, Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra said it is for industrial plots forming part of approved layout plan with fresh construction.

Earlier, the MCD had launched the scheme of sanctioning of building plans for residential properties in November last year.

Mehra said that till date 650 building plans for residential plots have been sanctioned online through the scheme. He said the scheme is being accepted well by property owners and architects.

Giving details of the software being used, Manish Gupta, Additional Commissioner (Engineering) said “the software has been developed in such a manner that it automatically scrutinises the submitted building plans with regard to the building bye-laws and Master Plan norms”.

Within one hour, he said, it automatically rebuts to the applicant or architect with errors and deviations in the submitted building plans.

He added that in this system all procedures are hassle- free, without any manual intervention for examination of the building plans as well as charges.

The official website of MCD has a list of architects empanelled online for facilitating owners preparing building plans as per bye-laws. They can also check the status of their application on MCD’s website.

The architects have also been imparted training and guidance regarding sanctioning of building plans online. The facility to deposit the applicable charges online through credit or debit cards has also been extended.

Subroto Roy’s Sahara front runners for Parsvnath’s Delhi land, offers Rs 600 cr

Subroto Roy’s Sahara Group is the front runner for buying Parsvnath’s land in Delhi, sources with direct involvement said. Sahara has offered to pay Rs 600 cr for the 1.8 acre prime commercial land near Cannaught Place. Sources indicate that Parsvnath Developers are expecting Rs 700 crores for the property and are in negotiations with the Sahara Group.

The bid process and the due diligence for the land sale is complete and sources say that the two parties, Parsvnath Developers and Sahara may soon come to a conclusion. Delhi-based steel company Bhushan Steel is also in the fray for buying Parsvnath Developers’ land along with some local builders in the NCR who had ahown interest in the deal. ICICI Bank which was earlier interested in the land buy has backed out from the deal, sources said.

Parsvnath Developers’ land near Cannaught Place has a built-up area of 1.5 lakh sq ft with 300 car parking. The company has close to Rs 1200 crores of debt and intends to use the land sale proceeds to repay a pert of the debt. The company did not comment on the land sale development. Sahara Group also offered no comment on the deal.

From heaven to living hell: Traders, residents lament CP’s fall from glory

Eighty-year-old B G Khullar stands near H-block in Connaught Place waiting for someone to help him get to the Middle Circle where he lives. At his age, walking in itself is an effort. But now, he has to navigate through uneven roads and dug-up pathways to reach home after completing his daily chores.

Khullar says he might have to move out of Connaught Place, which has been his home for close to 70 years because of the ongoing work here. “It is difficult to walk to my house with the area being dug-up and electric cables lying exposed. I live in H-block, Middle Circle, and have been living here since 1943 when the British still ruled India. My wife is 73 years old and can hardly move. I have to come down at least twice a day to do my chores since there is no one else living with us. My daughter lives in Faridabad and is insisting I move in with her. But I don’t want to leave CP. It is the heart of the city. It once used to be a heaven but these people have turned it into hell,’’ says Khullar as Mahinder Singh, one of the shopkeepers in the lane, helps him get home.

Singh’s shop has been lying shut for years as it has become inaccessible after the place was dug up.

“People have forgotten what CP used to be like. It was much better before they started work here,’’ says Singh.

According to the Charanjeet Singh, manager of Wengers, a pastry shop in A-block, they have not been able to get regular supply of goods due to the digging at the back of their shop. “Business has dropped by 20 per cent in the last two years. The digging at the back of our shop has blocked access for our supplies. There is also a major water problem in this area,’’ he says.

Sunil Malhotra, who is a partner of Embassy restaurant, said: “This restaurant opened in 1948. I have seen many changes in the area. After the Commonwealth Games, business picked up but then it started suffering once the digging resumed. The area is dusty and there is hardly any place for parking because of digging and barricading. Connaught Place might be revived to its pristine glory after all the work is done. But the question is how long will business establishments hold out while suffering losses. Slowly, the Indian brands are going away and multi-national stores are opening up. This is a setback to the originality of this place.’’

For Bercos, a Chinese-Thai restaurant in G-block, business has gone down from 100 per cent to 10 per cent. “Lack of parking and walking space have really affected business,’’ said Lobsang, manager of Bercos.

Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/from-heaven-to-living-hell-traders-residents-lament-cps-fall-from-glory/937682/0

Lack of civic sense, maintenance have stained Connaught Place facades

New Delhi: The white-washed facades in Connaught Place have already lost their sheen a year-and-a-half after the restoration work was carried out in the area. The paan-stained facades have turned black and are also chipping-off in some areas. According to NDMC officials, the company carrying out the work there, EIL, “is responsible for maintenance of this area for five years”.

A proper plan to ensure maintenance of the area was supposed to have been chalked out by the NDMC, but it has not happened so far. “We have had several meetings with NDMC officials over this issue but no concrete decision has been taken so far. The plan is to maintain CP by involving the NDMC, traders and a private company,’’ said Atul Bharghav, president of New Delhi Traders Association.

According to officials, a major problem is the lack of civic sense among people.

“People also need to be proactive in ensuring that the area is maintained properly. They can’t spit and throw garbage all over the place and expect the area remains clean all the time,’’ said an NDMC official.

Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/lack-of-civic-sense-maintenance-have-stained-connaught-place-facades/937669/0