The Times of India 13.10.2010
Civic work no longer HUDA priority
GURGAON: With the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) deciding to outsource many of its projects, it seems that development of infrastructure like roads, pavements or maintenance of roundabouts are no longer its priority.
The apex body for housing policies is wooing private institutions, corporates and industry houses to take over the maintenance of roads and infrastructure in the city. Urban town planner Yash Sachdeva feels that HUDAs decision will ultimately benefit the citizens. The private participation in maintenance and construction of roads is a good initiative because ultimately at the end of the day, people will get a better-maintained roads.
Senior HUDA officials too welcomed the strategy of involving private corporations in road infrastructure. The idea is to hand over the project on sharing basis. There is nothing wrong in involving the private corporations, said DPS Nangal, HUDAs chief administrator.
He further added, Before finalizing the private participation, HUDA checks the applicants credibility.
When asked why HUDA itself is not undertaking the road works in Gurgaon, the chief administrator said, There is a policy which allows the participation of the colonizer in the area where projects are being planned. Like in the case of DLF, all the colonies developed by
it are located on the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) section.
Nangal further disclosed that the DLF would be given three years for the maintenance work of the golf course road and the company will handle the entire road development work, during this period.
When asked about the project escalation cost, Nangal said: Before the signing of the agreement, the cost of the project is decided by HUDA, after going through various aspects. The private corporations or builders have to complete the work of the project as per the cost decided, said Nangal.
The HUDA fixes the cost as per its lowest expenditure incurred on road, with similar specifications, in the last six months in the states. This is the cost at which the colonizer has to construct the road, said Nangal.
