The Times of India 20.11.2009
MCD ups wedding booking rates sixfold |
NEW DELHI: Getting married in the Capital will now burn a huge hole in your pocket. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday passed a resolution in the standing committee to increase booking rates in several city parks from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000.
The booking rate of the Punjabi Bagh stadium, one of the most sought after sites in West Delhi for organizing social functions and weddings, has been raised to the said amount.
The fine amount, cleaning charges and security deposits have also been raised sharply. Now, one will have to pay Rs 25,000 as security deposit as against Rs 10,000 collected earlier and Rs 1,000 for the cleaning of parks instead of Rs 200 charged earlier. Holding of more than one function at the same site without required clearance would cost Rs 50,000 each.
"The decision to increase booking rates of the parks has been taken in view of the high number of requisitions we have been getting. The move will benefit the MCD financially and will also help in maintenance of the parks,'' said a senior MCD official. He said that as per a recent High Court order the MCD is supposed to forbid use of the parks for holding functions in a phased manner.
There is lot of pressure for booking the stadium at Punjabi Bagh, a senior MCD official said, and compared to the demand, the rates charged are quite low. The civic body thus barely manages to make any money from renting out the premises. The official said most people who book the stadium for weddings have a huge budget and can afford the increasing rates. "In any case, even the increased charges for MCD parks are much lower than what DDA charges. The rent for booking in DDA parks is as high as Rs 1.5 lakh,'' said an MCD official.
The MCD has a total of 675 parks under its jurisdiction. Of this, sources said, 540 parks that have seen fewer bookings will be closed for holding functions after December. Booking of other parks will also be banned later. There are many municipal wards where there is no proper community hall till date. "We are trying to locate land for community centers in these wards with the help of local councillors after which the booking in the local parks will be banned,'' said Leader of the House in MCD Subhash Arya.
The booking rate of the Punjabi Bagh stadium, one of the most sought after sites in West Delhi for organizing social functions and weddings, has been raised to the said amount.
The fine amount, cleaning charges and security deposits have also been raised sharply. Now, one will have to pay Rs 25,000 as security deposit as against Rs 10,000 collected earlier and Rs 1,000 for the cleaning of parks instead of Rs 200 charged earlier. Holding of more than one function at the same site without required clearance would cost Rs 50,000 each.
"The decision to increase booking rates of the parks has been taken in view of the high number of requisitions we have been getting. The move will benefit the MCD financially and will also help in maintenance of the parks,'' said a senior MCD official. He said that as per a recent High Court order the MCD is supposed to forbid use of the parks for holding functions in a phased manner.
There is lot of pressure for booking the stadium at Punjabi Bagh, a senior MCD official said, and compared to the demand, the rates charged are quite low. The civic body thus barely manages to make any money from renting out the premises. The official said most people who book the stadium for weddings have a huge budget and can afford the increasing rates. "In any case, even the increased charges for MCD parks are much lower than what DDA charges. The rent for booking in DDA parks is as high as Rs 1.5 lakh,'' said an MCD official.
The MCD has a total of 675 parks under its jurisdiction. Of this, sources said, 540 parks that have seen fewer bookings will be closed for holding functions after December. Booking of other parks will also be banned later. There are many municipal wards where there is no proper community hall till date. "We are trying to locate land for community centers in these wards with the help of local councillors after which the booking in the local parks will be banned,'' said Leader of the House in MCD Subhash Arya.
