Delhi: DDA approves budget with focus on civic infrastructure

Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in its meeting chaired by Lt. Governor, VK Saxena, who is also Chairman, DDA,  took major decisions, including approval of Annual Budget 2023-24, with focus on civic infrastructure of the national capital, particularly Narela, Dwarka and Rohini. The budget has special emphasis on UER II, rejuvenation and restoration of Yamuna floodplains and green spaces. The Authority also approved Pre-Determined rates for Rohini, Phase IV and V, Tikri Kalan and Narela for financial year 2022-23 and permitted land use change for improving public transport system in Delhi.

The Authority Meeting was attended by Subhasish Panda, Vice Chairman, DDA and other members including MLAs such as Vijender Gupta, Somnath Bharti, Shri OP Sharma,, and  Dilip Kumar Pandey .

Details of the major decisions taken are:

Budget Estimates 2023-24: The Authority approved the annual budget for 2023-24, with an annual outlay of Rs. 7643 crore and receipts projected at Rs. 8541 crore.

Highlights of the Budget:

Civic Infrastructure

A total allocation of Rs. 3314 crore has been made for development of land, physical infrastructure and maintenance of existing infrastructure that includes roads, sewage, water supply, power lines and drainage in development areas falling under the jurisdiction of DDA. These areas are primarily in Narela, Dwarka and Rohini. DDA has also planned for extensive development of Yamuna riverfront. Details in r/o some specific projects are as follows: -

Construction of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) as 3rd ring road of Delhi is in progress through NHAI. For this project, Rs.3600 crore will be funded by DDA out of the total project cost of Rs.6421 crore (for Delhi portion). This project will have a great impact on decongestion of Delhi and thereby reducing vehicular pollution. It will also serve the land pooling areas of Delhi, apart from being an arterial connectivity to Rohini and Narela. It will also allow traffic moving between Gurugram and Sonepat to by-pass Central Delhi. This will also lead to faster access to airport. It shall act as an additional Western Ring Road in Delhi thereby decongesting road network between Mukarba Chowk to Singhu Border.

1. DDA has planned construction of Trunk Drain of about 7.2 Kms length, costing Rs.293.21 crore to prevent water logging in DDA’s developed sectors 20, 21 & 22, vacant land of undeveloped Sectors 39, 40 & 41 of Rohini and adjoining 106 unauthorized colonies in Kirari assembly constituency. A provision of Rs. 100 crore in BE 2023-24 has been kept for this purpose.

2. Construction of Storm Water Drain at Sector-8, Dwarka is in progress. This drain will cater to the excess discharge of rain water of Airport and prevent flooding in Dwarka Sector – 8, Rajnagar, Baghdola and Palam area. The water, so discharged, shall be stored by constructing water bodies, recharge pits and water retention bodies in the parks of Sector 8 & Sector 23 Dwarka to help recharge the depleting water levels of the area. For this purpose, a provision of Rs. 30 crore has been made in BE 2023-24.

3. DDA has undertaken retrofitting and upgradation of Nehru Place and Bhikaji Cama Place Commercial Centers. The refurbishment work, including construction of multilevel car parking, is in progress. A provision of Rs. 65 crore has been made in BE 2023-24 for this purpose.

4. Construction of two foot over bridges in Dwarka is in progress. This will provide safe passage to pedestrians. A provision of Rs. 6 crore has been kept in BE 2023-24 for this purpose.

5. DDA, with an overall outlay of Rs. 928.92 crore, has undertaken the work of rejuvenation and restoration of the floodplains of river Yamuna. The work is being taken up in a phased manner as 10 separate sub projects. A sum of Rs. 405 crore has been provided in BE 2023-24 for this purpose.

6. The construction of iconic Bharat Vandana Park is in full swing. The park located in Sector-20, Dwarka, is spread over 189.28 acres with the project cost of Rs. 524 crore. A provision of Rs.105 Crore has been kept in BE 2023-24 for this purpose.

7. DDA has played a key role in the overall development and management of green spaces in the city. To continue this initiative, DDA is carrying out development, up gradation and modernization of existing as well as new parks. A provision of Rs.61 Crore has been kept in BE 2023-24 for this purpose. Apart from this, DDA is also maintaining around 787 parks. A provision of around Rs. 400 crore has been kept in BE 2023-24 for this purpose.

8. DDA has also prepared an action plan for rejuvenation of water bodies across Delhi. A Provision of Rs. 55 Crore has been provided in BE 2023-24 for this purpose. For irrigation and rejuvenation of water bodies and to reduce dependence on fresh water sources for watering of parks, DDA has implemented sustainable water management practice for using treated water through STP pipeline from centralized STPs and through decentralized STPs installed on nearby drains using technologies such as Constructed Wetland - Phytorid – SWAB, Zohkasou and MBBR. For this purpose, a provision of Rs. 4 crore has been kept in BE 2023-24.

9. DDA has established a network of seven biodiversity parks spread over an area of about 3000 acres in Delhi in collaboration with Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi. A provision of Rs. 33 Crore has been made in BE 2023-24 for the development and maintenance of these Bio-diversity Parks.

10. DDA has committed Rs. 1000 crore for Phase IV of Delhi Metro. For this purpose, a provision of Rs. 350 crore has been made in BE 2023-24.

11. To contain encroachment of DDA’s precious land, a provision of around Rs. 106 crore has been made towards safety / security of land in the budget estimates for 2023-24.

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Housing: 

12. DDA has projected revenue of around Rs.4310 crore on account of sale of additional inventory of existing housing projects which are nearing completion. It is expected that completion of UER-II connecting NH-8 to NH-2, Narela and the proposed Metro line expected to be approved by Govt. shortly, will result in value addition and will give a fillip to the demand of DDA’s housing flats in Narela. 

13. Emphasis in the budget, has been given to complete all ongoing housing projects. Significant housing projects that will be completed in the current year includes projects in Dwarka having around 1114 HIG flats facing Dwarka Golf Course, around 650 MIG flats in Lok Nayak Puram and around 9000 HIG/MIG flats in Narela. Flats in Lok Nayak Puram and Narela are in close proximity of UER-II where the work is in full swing.

Apart from above, construction of residential complexes on Transit Oriented Development (TOD) norms basis at Karkardooma, Delhi is currently under progress. TOD entails bringing together metro stations, residences, workplaces, and recreational spaces. This project involves construction of 1108 MIG and 522 EWS residential flats in 1st phase.

A total provision of Rs.1767 crore has been kept in BE 2023-24 for construction of houses of which 240 crore relates to construction of houses at Karkardooma on TOD basis.

14. DDA is committed for In-Situ Rehabilitation of Slum dwellers. RFP has been floated for 10 new projects for this purpose. 3024 E WS DU’s were already completed, and Hon’ble Prime Minister handed over keys to slum dwellers in Nov 2022 in Kalkaji extension. Further, following Housing Projects under In-Situ Rehabilitation scheme are in progress: 

Jailorwala Bagh: - 1675 EWS DU’s on Design and Build model are in advance stage of construction and are likely to be completed during 2023-24. 
Kathputli Colony: - 2800 EWS DU’s are being constructed on PPP model.

A provision of Rs. 70 crore has been kept in the BE 2023-24 for this purpose. 

Sports Promotion

15. DDA has been a premier agency for promoting sports activities in Delhi and has established a network of 15 Sports Complexes, 3 mini sports complexes and 2 Golf Courses which are presently in operation. A provision of Rs.178 crore has been kept in the BE 2023-24 for maintenance of these complexes.

16. Further, one sports complex at Sector 17, Dwarka is likely to be inaugurated in the first half of 2023 and three Sports Complexes at Sector 8, 19 & 23 and one Golf Course at Sector 24, Dwarka will also be inaugurated by the end of current Year. A provision of Rs. 155 Crore has been made in BE 2023-24 for this purpose.

17. Apart from this, DDA has also undertaken development of one integrated multi-sports arena in Dwarka Sector 19B on PPP mode. Construction of two more sports complexes one each at Rohini and Narela are also proposed on PPP mode. 

Change of land use of an area measuring 13.49 Ha (33.33 acres) from part ‘Industrial’ and part ‘Utility’ to ‘Transportation’ (T2) located at Jangpura, New Delhi:  To strengthen public transport system in the national capital, the Authority has approved change of land use. National Capital Regional Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) had requested DDA for change of land use of an area measuring 13.49 Ha. (33.33 acres) from part ‘Industrial’ and part ‘Utility’ to ‘Transportation’ (T2) located at Jangpura, New Delhi for RRTS installations including stabling yard and station, operational control centre, NCRTC office and staff quarters. Now, public notice will be issued for inviting objections/suggestions.

Change of land use for 7,847.97 Sq.m. (1.94 acres) from Public & Semi-Public to “Recreational” in lieu of CLU proposal of 1.94 acres of land allotted to Ministry of Home Affairs for construction of Transit Camp for CRPF:  The Authority has approved change of land use from Public & Semi Public to recreational. A request was received from CRPF for Change of Land Use (CLU) of an area measuring 1.94 acres, out of the total land at CRPF campus at Bawana. This was in lieu of approved CLU proposal of 1.94 acres of land allotted to Ministry of Home Affairs for construction of Transit Camp for CRPF in the vicinity of New Delhi Railway Station.

The proposal for CLU from PSP to Recreational is compensatory CLU. The Transit Camp is used for stay of personnel who have been urgently posted from various parts of the country and for troops to be posted for election duty in various parts of the country. Apart from this, the personnel posted in J&K, NE states and Chhattisgarh also stay here during their transfer/posting or leave. 

Permission for additional activities on 2 acres out of 7 acres: To enable National Law University to expand its services and provide a wider range of facilities for its students and staff, the Authority has permitted the University to set up Technical Training Center, Community Hall, Recreational Hall, Library, among others, in 2 acres land out of 7 acres Plot to them in Dwarka.

The Integrated Complex of National Law University (NLU) is existing on 12 acres of land in Sector -14, Dwarka. Further, additional land of 7 acres adjacent to its existing campus was also allotted by DDA to NLU, Delhi for “Construction of Hostels”. The land was sub-divided into two plots of area 2 acres and 5 acres each based on request of NLU to provide its students and staff with the best possible facilities and resources.

The decision was made in accordance with the Master Plan of Delhi 2021, which allows for certain additional activities to be carried out in residential use zone, subject to certain conditions. 

The Authority adopted Annual Accounts of DDA for the financial year 2021-22 after certification by CAG of India. Besides, it has also approved Pre-Determined rates for Rohini, Phase IV and V, Tikri Kalan and Narela for financial year 2022-23. Pre-Determined Rates (PDRS) are defined as the rates/price chargeable for allotment of alternative land to different categories of persons whose lands have been acquired for planned development of Delhi - low and middle income categories of persons by draw of lots and industrialist/owner/occupiers of warehouses/industries which are required to be shifted from non-conforming areas to conforming areas under the Master Plan etc.