New Delhi: Ministry of Urban Development and Housing Affairs' ambitious project Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), which is a combination of residential, commercial, recreational centers along with public transport system in East Delhi’s Karkardooma area, was given a push as the Centre laid down foundation stone on Thursday.
While laying down foundation stone on Thursday, in the presence of Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other public representatives (BJP leader of Delhi), Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “It would be a first urban developed area where residential, commercial and many other facilities would be at one place. It would also set up a model for other such kind of development which is a need of today for urban people.”
Named as ‘East Delhi Hub’, the integrated development, which will bring together metro stations, residential buildings and workplaces and recreational spaces such as museums, is expected to be completed by 2023.
Delhi’s only land owning government agency – DDA has been given task to reduce the need to commute for work or recreation, and making urban development more sustainable.
The government-owned real estate firm – National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) has been assigned responsibility to construct the project. It had singed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard in 2015. However, the project got delayed for unknown reasons.
Later, as sources said the DDA has revised the conditions of the MoU, wherein the NBCC will work as project planning, designing and executing agency. Apart from many other amenities, the project will have around 1,600 residential units within its 60 acres premises.
The much talked and a much needed project got go ahead in September this year when it was approved by DDA meeting, saying the development would consist of high-density, mixed-use, mixed-income buildings within a short distance of a rapid public transport network. Karkardooma has two metro stations and they are not so far away from Anand Vihar Railway station and an Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT).
A DDA official who is associated with this project said that residential, commercial, and institutional establishments would be in a close proximity to that local people too can easily access facilities like plazas and shared parks.
The DDA on December 19, also signed a MoU with the Indian Railways for development and redevelopment of the Anand Vihar station. Officials said that the TOD policy to be kicked off in Karkardooma will also be linked to the Anand Vihar station.
