A Sabarmati-like riverfront in Delhi, at a contentious location

The Millennium Bus Depot came up before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but was closed down later since it was built on the Yamuna floodplains and its construction was against the norms, which state that no concrete or permanent structures can come up on the fragile area. The structures that were built, however, still stand.

Saxena said that all norms would be followed in developing the waterfront. The project will be helmed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), of which the L-G is the chairperson. According to DDA officials, since concrete structures already exist at the depot, no other construction that violates norms will be done.

Saxena, meanwhile, said the development of the waterfront will take a few years and the project was at the stage of designing. “Once the design is ready, it should be a matter of 2-3 years,” he said.

L-G V K Saxena said redeveloped ghats will serve as places for public gatherings. Mallica Joshi

Over the past two years, DDA has been working on the development of the riverfront, and has undertaken 10 projects, of which work is underway at eight. Recently, a delegation of envoys/diplomats of G20 nations visited the redeveloped Asita East ghat, where they also cycled through the curated path.

While a part of the redeveloped ghat consists of manicured lawns, a walkway made of interlocking tiles, a cycle track, a parking area, a congregation spot and a selfie spot; the 90-hectare area also has catchment zones, riverine grasslands and ecology, which as per DDA officials, has been home to migratory birds.

It has a restored wetland of about 2.5 hectares and a plantation of 4,000 native trees of the floodplain ecosystem and about 3.35 million riverine grasses.

According to DDA officials, work at the other seven parks is also in full swing.

“While a small part of the Asita East comprises manicured gardens, that is not the objective. We are not making gardens. Development of the ghats is on ecological bases. A part of Asita West is also partly manicured. But by and large, we are developing planted developments, where grasses and trees and shrubs are carefully selected and are native to the area and the riverine ecology,” the official said.

Officials also said they had made a conscious decision to not go forth with manicured developments in upcoming projects.

“It has been a learning process. We have made mistakes and corrected them. We know that manicured gardens are not ideal for the riverine ecology,” he said.

DDA officials believe that with the new development, the participation of the people of Delhi will increase and encroachments can be controlled as people will be shareholders in the upkeep of the developments.

The L-G, meanwhile, said the redeveloped ghats will serve as places for public gatherings.