The Times of India 09.11.2009
DDA plans to increase built-up area of banquet halls
NEW DELHI: As the marriage season gets underway in the city, Delhi Development Authority is planning to increase the built-up area of banquet halls (baraat ghars) along the lines of guidelines laid out in the Master Plan of Delhi 2021.
Sources in DDA confirmed that demand for more such halls had been coming in for some years now. "The pressure is not only from the public but also the nominated elected representatives in the Authority,'' admitted a senior official. The fact that MPD2021 has already allowed the ramping up of community halls and other social infrastructure, makes the move simpler for DDA.
According to the guidelines laid out in the MPD2021, for every 1 lakh residential population, civic agencies are allowed to build a multipurpose community hall of 2,000 sqm. In the case of a banquet hall, this becomes a plot area of 800-2,000 sqm for a population of 10,000.
There are not enough banquet halls available in the city and the waiting list for these halls and community centres has been increasing steadily.
Incidentally, the maximum built up area or covered area for these halls was a modest 260 sqm before the Masterplan. As per the new regulations, the built up area on a plot of 2,000 sqm, which is allowed a coverage of 30%, works out to 600 sqm, considerably larger than the earlier 260 sqm which was 33% of the plot area of 800 sqm, said the official.
According to the new proposal, banquet halls can now be three storeys high. This would enable the maximum utilisation of available space, said DDA officials. The land agency has recommended the same in the redevelopment norms that was passed by the Authority last month and which has gone for final approval to the urban development ministry. This redevelopment is to be applicable to both planned and unplanned areas.
Sources in DDA confirmed that demand for more such halls had been coming in for some years now. "The pressure is not only from the public but also the nominated elected representatives in the Authority,'' admitted a senior official. The fact that MPD2021 has already allowed the ramping up of community halls and other social infrastructure, makes the move simpler for DDA.
According to the guidelines laid out in the MPD2021, for every 1 lakh residential population, civic agencies are allowed to build a multipurpose community hall of 2,000 sqm. In the case of a banquet hall, this becomes a plot area of 800-2,000 sqm for a population of 10,000.
There are not enough banquet halls available in the city and the waiting list for these halls and community centres has been increasing steadily.
Incidentally, the maximum built up area or covered area for these halls was a modest 260 sqm before the Masterplan. As per the new regulations, the built up area on a plot of 2,000 sqm, which is allowed a coverage of 30%, works out to 600 sqm, considerably larger than the earlier 260 sqm which was 33% of the plot area of 800 sqm, said the official.
According to the new proposal, banquet halls can now be three storeys high. This would enable the maximum utilisation of available space, said DDA officials. The land agency has recommended the same in the redevelopment norms that was passed by the Authority last month and which has gone for final approval to the urban development ministry. This redevelopment is to be applicable to both planned and unplanned areas.
