Standing ground

But this is typical of the way the state and its appendages have made themselves comfortable in all of Lutyens Delhi and its neighbourhoods. The government squats on the entire area,even as the rest of the city struggles and hustles,trying to accommodate the growing demands of industry and commerce,and the sheer press of its population. This bubble of privilege (still referred to as the Delhi Imperial Zone,or DIZ,in municipal terminology) is shaded with splendid old trees,lavished with infrastructural attention its greenery sustains the whole city,though it houses the fewest people. Meanwhile,the rest of Delhi has intense demands placed on it,from a combination of trade,service and industries. There is no question that we need to radically review our land-use patterns. Changing Lutyens Delhi from a place where the powerful can

ignore the real city,into a more

diverse,mixed-use space is not only more seemly in a democracy,it would also ensure more efficient use of space.

Our absurd zoning laws mean that the best parts of town are taken over by PSUs and government departments,commissions and authorities with their squat,charmless buildings. There have been some moves towards changing this and easing the stress on central Delhi,including the idea that no new government offices should come up in the area and that existing structures be augmented for optimum usage. But for now,it doesnt look like the government intends to cede space anytime soon.