Delhi: DDA to ensure better transport, utility services before housing scheme launch in March

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is now planning to ensure adequate public transport connectivity and other services in areas where the flats under its new housing scheme are located.

The new housing scheme by the authority is expected to be launched by end of March. Under the project, the authority will offer 13,000 flats at locations like Sarita Vihar, Jasola, Dwarka, Pitampura, Sukhdev Vihar, Narela, Rohini, Jahangirpuri, Loknayakpuram, Dilshad Garden, Paschim Vihar, Bindapur and Mukherjee Nagar.

All of these flats were, in fact, offered in the previous schemes, but were later surrendered by allottees because of poor construction, infrastructure, and other facilities. A total of 11,544 flats were either surrendered or allotments were cancelled for various reasons. A majority of the flats were one bedroom, hall and kitchen (BHK).

According to a senior official of the DDA, the agency is planning to write to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to improve bus frequency in these areas or introduce new routes in colonies that are still not on its map.

The official said that DTC should not have much issue with the DDA’s request as bus service is already available at some locations, and the corporation just has to increase their frequency. “We will request them to approve new routes or more buses on specific routes,” he said.

The DDA is simultaneously planning to write to Mother Dairy to open milk, vegetable and fruit stalls.

“As we are making every possible effort to launch the housing scheme in March, we want to make sure there is better transport service and utility outlets before making the allotments. We have received feedbacks from various quarters regarding non-availability of grocery shops or milk booths in the vicinity of some flats. At some locations, the nearest Mother Dairy booth was six kilometers away,” the official said.

He also said that the tendering process to allot shops in housing complexes or their vicinity has already been initiated. “We hope vendors will also move well in time,” he said.