The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the decks for a Rs. 32,835 crore plan to alleviate the housing woes of government employees in the Capital by redeveloping seven residential colonies in order to nearly double the housing units in the next five years.
“There is a severe shortage of houses in Delhi for government employees. Officials have to wait a long time to get eligible housing,” Telecom and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, after the Cabinet meeting.
“We have decided to develop general pool residential accommodation in seven places, which will include renovating and redeveloping some existing properties, and some new construction. The number of housing units will be taken from the existing 12,970 to 25,667,” Mr. Prasad said.
The seven locations are: Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Srinivaspuri and Mohammadpur.
While the first three colonies will be redeveloped by public sector firm National Buildings Construction Corporation, the other four will be developed through the Central Public Works Department.
Big project
The project’s estimated cost includes maintenance and operation costs for 30 years. The plan will also entail development of new government office accommodation for nearly 2.42 lakh square metres at Netaji Nagar.
An official statement said that the project will be implemented on a ‘self-financing basis’ by using proceeds from the sale of commercial built-up areas in Nauroji Nagar and parts of Sarojini Nagar, adjoining the Capital’s arterial Ring Road.
“The Ministry of Urban Development had moved a proposal for redevelopment of existing old dilapidated housing colonies to augment the housing stock by making optimum utilisation of land resources as per Master Plan Delhi (MPD) - 2021 and using modern construction technology with green building norms and in-house solid and liquid waste management facilities,” the statement said.
As per the plan, after five years, the Centre will have 25,667 dwelling units of Type II to VI, with a built-up area of approximately 29.18 lakh sqm with supporting social infrastructure facilities.
