Land-locked DDA to try its luck elsewhere

There are two more factors which have prompted the DDA to diversify its activities, he said. First, the private sector has also entered into housing. And secondly, a large percentage of DDA land is still illegally occupied. In the current drive against encroachers, the DDA has recovered about 175 acres of land.

“But there is political interference in several cases of encroachment. The only way to secure our land is by quickly putting the land to use for the purpose it had been acquired. For example, building schools or parks,” he said.

Ghosh, however, added that housing will continue to be a core area for the DDA. He pointed out that Rs 363 crore has been earmarked in this year’s budget for building about 22,000 new houses, an increase of Rs 73 crore from last year. These houses are expected to come up in Dwarka, Rohini, Narela, Jasola, Kondli Gharoli and Dhirpur.

He said that the DDA would also ensure that its already-constructed houses are occupied as soon as possible after water and power supply are arranged. And though there is a paucity of land, the DDA hopes it will be able to dispose of 2,500 plots of land under the Rohini Residential Scheme. There is a current backlog of a whopping 38,292 applicants.

That the DDA has changed its focus is revealed in the budget estimates for 1999-2000. The DDA expects to earn Rs 1,203 crore this year, which is Rs 260 crore more than last year. It also estimates that it will spend Rs 1,213 crore during the next financial year, which is Rs 50 crore more than last year. DDA Member (Finance) K.P. Lakshman Rao said most of the expenditure will be incurred on building shops, sports complexes, flyovers and roads. For example, Rs 290 crore has been earmarked for building shops and commercial establishment as against Rs 190 crore last year.

One area that the DDA will take up on a full-time basis is the construction of roads. According to vice-chairman Ghosh: “The DDA is often blamed for bad roads, though it is basically the responsibility of the PWD. But now we will construct and broaden roads using modern technology.”

While this is one contribution the DDA is making towards better traffic management, says Ghosh, the other is flyovers. The DDA has already started work on the seven flyovers for which it has obtained a contract from the Delhi government. Seven more flyovers are at the planning stage. These include one at the Sarai Kale Khan, ISBT and another at Vikas Marg near mother dairy. The DDA is also going to invite tenders for a multi-tier parking lot near the Nehru Place Commercial Area. These tenders will be released within a fortnight.

Also, the areas the DDA is planning to concentrate more than ever before is maintenance of DDA parks and heritage buildings.