Bringing much-desired relief to the Delhi traders, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the land owning agency of the national Capital, has approved a uniform floor ratio (FAR) for shop-cum-residential plots in its authority meeting on Tuesday.
This implies that the FAR (A ratio of buildings’ total floor area to the size of the plot of land on which it is built) has been increased to 350 square metres (sqm) which was earlier 180 sqm for some markets. And with this move of DDA, the 15 affected markets (shop-cum-residential) from sealing will get relief.
DDA also adopted a proposal that clubs and pubs shall not be allowed in the residential properties as part of the mix land use. Several residents' welfare associations (RWAs) had lodged complaints with the DDA that pubs and clubs were proving to be a bigger nuisance and should not be allowed.
DDA has come up with this amendment after taking into consideration the views of markets associations, traders, different RWAs and other major stakeholders. DDA member and leader of Opposition (lOP) in Delhi Assembly said care has been taken to balance the interests of all stakeholders — including residents, traders, industrialist, godown owners. “Most of the issues were pending for the last 12 years. But the Central Government in a swift move, went through 741 objections and suggestions and finally reached an acceptable solution,” said Gupta.
Gupta also said the Government has struck balance between development of Delhi on the one hand and broad issues like environment, pollution, fire safely, parking, traffic management and other issues on the other hand it has ensured that these important sectors do not come under strain.
The rationalising of all charges — including parking and conversion fees — was also discussed and these have been linked to unit area method categories of property tax.
According to DDA officials, these recommendations also take into account, the concerns raised by Supreme Court vide orders February 9, 2018 with respect to environment, pollution, fire safety measures for life and safety of the people.
“To cater to the footfall of visitors and vehicles in such areas and complexes, the parking and other infrastructure services like water, sewage shall be augmented by the concerned service providing agencies,” DDA mentioned in its official statement.
“In case the parking cannot be provided within the plot, the concerned local bodies shall identify and develop the land for providing shared or common parking. In the absence of any land for the parking in the vicinity, such complexes / street shall be declared as “Pedestrian shopping street or areas,” DDA official said.
Elaborating more on parking facility, the DDA mentioned that the scheme areas shall be provided with 5 per cent additional ground coverage. “Rebate in levy of conversion charges and amalgamation of plots have also been introduced to incentivise the parking facility within the plot.”
Traders have also largely represented for rationalising of fixation of charges — use conversion charges, additional FAR charges, parking charges, compounding charges and penalty.
The DDA in its response to this mentioned that the applicable charges are being synchronised based on locality or category as defined for Circle Rates. “Similarly, the ambiguity regarding annual payment of use conversion charges for indefinite period has been rectified,” the DDA highlighted in official statement.
On the issue pertaining to godowns by various stakeholders, the DDA said godowns functioning from non-conforming areas, such existing godown clusters as well as stand-alone godowns shall be permitted with certain regulatory measures taking into consideration the traffic congestion, loading and unloading facility from vehicles, pollution.
“In villages, stand-alone godowns shall be permitted on plots which have direct access from minimum 9 metre RoW (with maximum plot size of 300 sqm) and minimum 12 metre RoW (irrespective of plot size),” DDA mentioned.
