Roadblock for TDI mall again

The TDI Mall is embroiled in a fresh controversy as the UT Estate Office has issued a notice to the developer.

UT sends notice to developer as buildings facade occupies two feet of govt land

The TDI Mall (formerly known as Jagat Theatre,Sector 17) is embroiled in a fresh controversy as the UT Estate Office has issued a notice to the developer,highlighting serious building violations in the complex. One of the foremost and gross building violations mentioned in the notice is that the front facade of the building is built over an area that includes two feet of government land. Various other violations,including inadequate width of ramp inside the building and certain condonable violations,are also mentioned in the notice. Taneja Developers and Infrastructure Limited,the flagship company of Taneja Group,as part of their expansion plans,announced the launch of TDI Mall in the heart of city centre,Sector 17,Chandigarh in June 2006. For the last over four years,the mall is yet to see light of the day. This was because soon after the developer started construction by razing the already constructed Jagat Theatre,the UT Estate Office issued them a notice to stop construction immediately,since the developer had started construction without obtaining clearance from the environment ministry.

After a few months,construction resumed again; but still,the mall has not started functioning. The building plan of TDI Multiplex was initially sanctioned on April 4,2006. The revised building plans of the project were submitted on November 21,2008,on which the inspecting UT officials remarked that total planning changed as compared to the previous sanctioned plan. The plans were perused in the Estate Office and recommended by the members of the committee examining the plans,except Chief Fire Officer,who has raised an observation regarding six-metre wide clear passage all around the building,which is required as per the provision of National Building Code.

In the recent development,against which the developer has gone in for an appeal to the Chandigarh Administration,the Estate Office has again asked the developer to rectify various other violations. However,certain violations,including inadequate width of ramp and construction of a facade (front wall) of the building on government land is the grossest violation.

Who can condone such a violation? There is no option for the developer,but to rectify the gross error. Under no circumstances,the violation could be condoned. The developer had asked us to charge the market ground rent for the land,on which they inadvertently constructed the facade; but so far,it is not possible, said Sanjay Kumar,Secretary (Finance),UT.

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