The Times of India 22.02.2013
NDMC considers scrapping KG Marg multilevel parking
NEW DELHI: With the
Kasturba Gandhi Marg multilevel parking project stuck with the National
Monument Authority for nearly one-and-half-years, the New Delhi
Municipal Council is deliberating over scrapping the project. According
to sources in the NDMC, if the project is not given approval from the
heritage body, then the process to scrap it would be initiated. The
project will be tabled in NMA's February 22 meet.
"We have been awaiting clearance from the heritage authority for the past three years. In February 2010, we had applied to ASI but after the formation of NMA, the matter was referred to it. If NMA doesn't give approval soon, we will have no other option but to scrap it. At least, we should provide surface parking to people,'' said a source.
NDMC officials say that people are facing a serious parking problem in the area as the site, which has over 300 offices, has been dug up. Earlier, NDMC used to run a surface parking at the site which had space for over 700 cars. "The project has been on hold for a long time now. This parking site was proposed in the Master Plan of Delhi-2021. NDMC and the private concessionaire have incorporated all the suggestion made by NMA and ASI. Despite being a public project, it is taking so long to get permission,'' said a senior official.
In September 2012, NMA had asked the private concessionaire and NDMC to commission a heritage impact assessment report due to the site's proximity to the13th-century Agrasen ki Baoli, and recommended Intach Delhi Chapter for the task. The private concessionaire — DS Construction — is hopeful that the project will get a go-ahead from the NMA. "We are keen to progress on this project as the automated parking lot would be extremely beneficial to the people commuting to Connaught Place. We believe an independent body has done an impact assessment study of the site and presented its report to the NMA. The authority is expected to take a decision shortly. We are hopeful that we can start soon,'' said a spokesperson, DS Construction.
The NDMC had awarded the contract to DS Construction in December 2007. The project was to be completed by 2010. NDMC officials say the private concessionaire has to pay a license fee of Rs 1 crore a year — increasing 5% each year thereafter — from this financial year.
"We have been awaiting clearance from the heritage authority for the past three years. In February 2010, we had applied to ASI but after the formation of NMA, the matter was referred to it. If NMA doesn't give approval soon, we will have no other option but to scrap it. At least, we should provide surface parking to people,'' said a source.
NDMC officials say that people are facing a serious parking problem in the area as the site, which has over 300 offices, has been dug up. Earlier, NDMC used to run a surface parking at the site which had space for over 700 cars. "The project has been on hold for a long time now. This parking site was proposed in the Master Plan of Delhi-2021. NDMC and the private concessionaire have incorporated all the suggestion made by NMA and ASI. Despite being a public project, it is taking so long to get permission,'' said a senior official.
In September 2012, NMA had asked the private concessionaire and NDMC to commission a heritage impact assessment report due to the site's proximity to the13th-century Agrasen ki Baoli, and recommended Intach Delhi Chapter for the task. The private concessionaire — DS Construction — is hopeful that the project will get a go-ahead from the NMA. "We are keen to progress on this project as the automated parking lot would be extremely beneficial to the people commuting to Connaught Place. We believe an independent body has done an impact assessment study of the site and presented its report to the NMA. The authority is expected to take a decision shortly. We are hopeful that we can start soon,'' said a spokesperson, DS Construction.
The NDMC had awarded the contract to DS Construction in December 2007. The project was to be completed by 2010. NDMC officials say the private concessionaire has to pay a license fee of Rs 1 crore a year — increasing 5% each year thereafter — from this financial year.
