The Indian Express 11.04.2013
Will build parking complex at Khan Market, but must get land at subsidised rate: NDMC
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Wednesday took a stand on the parking issue in Khan Market and said it will accept land allotment from the Land and Development Office (L&DO) only if it is given at a subsidised rate.
According to the proposal approved by the NDMC, the land should be given at a rate similar to that given for constructing multi-level parking facilities in Sarojini Nagar Market and on Baba Kharag Singh Marg.
"The L&DO should consider the fact that no part of the parking will be used for commercial activities and, therefore, to make it financially viable, NDMC should be given the land for Khan Market parking at a rate similar to that of Sarojini Nagar and BKS Marg parking," the proposal approved by the council stated.
The proposal also said till the start of construction of parking facility, the plot will be used as open paid parking either through contractor or on a Bhagidari basis. The council will also inform the High Court of its decision.
The parking issue began when Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), a body appointed by the Supreme Court, made the parking at Khan Market a paid one, an NDMC official said.
"Earlier, no parking fee was charged for open spaces, which were with the NDMC. After advice from EPCA, 5,700 sqm of land was offered for paid parking. Khan Market Traders' Association opposed this move and filed a writ petition in the High Court.
"The court did not agree with traders. It suggested that the association pay NDMC Rs 5.34 lakh per month and run the parking as free," an NDMC official said.
"But as parking space became a need for the area, NDMC requested L&DO to provide a plot where multi-level parking can be constructed. L&DO allotted a plot of 4972.5 sqm on March 4, 2013," the official said.
For this plot, L&DO asked NDMC to pay Rs 28,980 per sqm. The total amount comes to Rs 14.77 crore. Objecting to this, NDMC requested L&DO to give land on rates similar to those in other parking sites. Sarojini Nagar was given land at Rs 11,000 per acre with 5 per cent ground rent. BKS Marg paid Rs 10,000 per acre.
