Relief for sealing ­hit traders, Delhi’s master plan amended

DDA approves suggested amendments, new plan may be notified after a week

NEW DELHI: City traders facing sealing action for alleged violation of building bylaws may soon get relief as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Tuesday approved amendments to the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2021, allowing uniform Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for shop-cum-residential plots, use of basements to run businesses and rationalisation of conversion charges.

The DDA has allowed a uniform Floor Area Ratio of 350 from the earlier 180­ to 225. Conversion charges will also be calculated based on the locality in which the property is situated.

Based on the feedback it got from the residents’ welfare associations during the five-day public hearing on the Master Plan modifications, the land-owning agency has banned pubs and clubs in residential areas.

“The amendments cleared by the DDA in Tuesday’s meeting will be notified by the ministry of housing and urban affairs. They will also be placed before the Supreme Court in the form of an affidavit as Centre’s measures to bring order to sealing chaos in the city. Hopefully after that it will stop,” said a senior DDA official. The notification of the amended master plan may take a week, the official said.

As per the changes approved by the DDA, in a meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, outlets serving alcohol in residential localities will have to shift and others in residentialcum-shopping streets will comply with certain norms like restricted entry-exit from front access.

Electric equipment like outdoor air-conditioning units must not be protruding out of the plot boundary or in the public lane facing other residential plots.

Bars and clubs will be given six-month time to relocate their operations and the municipal corporations will enforce the orders. “The owners of commercial set-ups including pubs and bars will need to shift all such equipment to roof top. Once the amendments are notified, they will have six months’ time to relocate or they will face action. The DDA will formulate guidelines for municipal corporations, which will enforce MPD provisions,” said Udai Pratap Singh, vice chairman, DDA.

He said the authority will develop a mechanism for monitoring of civic agencies.

“Their (municipal corporations) accountability will be fixed and provisions for imposition of penalty on violators will be explored. The traders will get 90 days time to pay conversion charges,” Singh said.

The DDA also approved changes in rules for mixed land use, allowing uniform FAR in all shop-cum-residential plots or complexes, irrespective of their year of existence (pre-1962, which is before first MPD’s notification, or post 1962). The issue was flagged by the traders in view of the possible action by the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee against violation of municipal norms.

Uniform 350 FAR has been permitted subject to payment of penalty, amounting to 1.5 times of conversion charges. Earlier, FAR was 180-225 based on plot size.

Following amendments in the MPD, conversion charges will now be calculated based on the category of locality as defined under circle rates. For the convenience, three categories have been recommended — A & B, C & D, and E to H.

Conversion charges for A & B category is ₹22,000 per square meter (sqm) and for B & C, it is ₹14,000 per sqm. And for rest of the categories —E,F, G & H, the charges are ₹5,000 per sqm. However, these rates are likely to be rationalised more before notification.

“Final rates will be decided soon which will be incorporated in the notification to be issued by the ministry,” said an DDA official privy to the matter.

The property owners will not pay conversion charges after 10 years and one-time parking charges — down payment or maximum in four instalments within a year— will be charged.

Leader of the opposition in the Delhi assembly and member of DDA, Vijender Gupta said the efforts were aimed at striking a balance between the interests of all stakeholders and the growth of the city.

“Uniform FAR on shopping cum-residential plots and complexes that came up before or after 1962 will go a long way to streamline traders’ operations in the city. Basements will not be included in FAR. The commercial activities in basement will be permissible subject to fulfill of certain conditions,” he said.

Businessmen say no clarity on many issues, only 30% will benefit.

NEW DELHI: Traders gave mixed reactions to the amendments in Delhi’s Master Plan 2021 by the Delhi Development Authority.

They said there was no clarity on how the amendments will affect the ongoing sealing drive and how the agencies will implement the changes to MPD, approved on Tuesday.

“The amendments will provide relief to less than 30% traders in the local markets because the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee is targeting all kinds of properties for alleged misuse on mixed land use and commercial roads,” said Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary of Confederation of All India Traders.

The traders body demanded that the Centre must immediately bring an ordinance or bill to stop sealing. “An ordinance to stop sealing is essential since the monitoring committee is conducting the drive in an arbitrary manner,” said Khandelwal.

Traders said the civic authorities should look for solutions to deal with these issues in the next Master Plan of Delhi 2041.

“We welcome the DDA’s steps such as commercialisation of basements, enhancement of floor area ration and fixation of use conversion charges based on category of markets. But what about special areas? We had demanded no penal action in special areas until the re-development plan is made,” said Satender Jain, president, Delhi Iron and Hardware Merchant Association, Chawri Bazar.