Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday reviewed the security and civic infrastructure/services in Narela sub-city, issuing instructions to prevent crime, illegal encroachment of public land and enhancing amenities in order to create a safer environment for the housing societies as well as industries operating in the area.

Moreover, apart from deploying nearly 500 ex-servicemen for security of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) residential societies and regular patrolling by the PCR vans, the LG also directed the Delhi Police to launch a specific drive for identifying the bad elements / characters and repeat offenders in the vicinity.

Vice Chairman of DDA and other senior DDA officials, area DCP, area DM and the Zonal DC (MCD) were also present in the meeting.

A senior official of the authority said, “The move comes as part of LG Saxena’s ambitious plans for redevelopment of the Narela sub-city and transforming it into a hub for Educational and Sports activities. Ever since taking over, Saxena, has been emphasizing upon clearing the unsold inventories of DDA in various residential pockets of Narela by offering the flats to people at discounted affordable prices.”

He added that at the same time, LG has also taken personal initiatives to improve infrastructure in Narela industrial area and other adjoining industrial areas like Bawana and Bhorgarh so as to attract industrial units. In the meeting, the LG pointed out that many representations of the residents of the area have been received and people had come to see him outlining problems with regards to law and order in the area.  The DCP also informed of the problems persisting in the area especially those that resulted in street crimes and petty thefts etc.

The LG directed Delhi Police to ensure visible policing in the area particularly surrounding the housing societies. He directed regular patrolling by dedicated PCR vans during the night hours in Narela. The issue of unavailability of infrastructure for police chowki in the area was also raised in the meeting, to which Saxena directed DDA to provide its vacant flats at suitable location for creating new police posts.

Saxena said that this would instil a greater sense of security among the residents of the area apart from acting as a deterrent to the criminals.

The DCP also brought to the notice the prevalence of several dark spots in the area which were prone to crime.  Upon this, the LG further directed DDA officials to identify the dark stretches in consultation with local police and ensure proper lighting on urgent basis.  Saxena was informed that incidents of crime included scaling of low height boundary walls by petty criminals as also destruction of CCTV cameras and streetlights in the area.  The LG directed DDA to raise the height of the boundary walls of the housing societies and protect them with barbed wire fencing.  He also asked for the CCTV cameras and streetlights to be installed at heights that were not scalable easily and also for the cameras and lights to be put inside protective high tensile wire meshes.

With regards to civic services in the area, the LG issued specific directions to all agencies concerned, primarily MCD to complete the repair of roads in a mission mode and ensure that proper garbage disposal is undertaken.

“The LG was also informed by DDA officials that nearly 500 ex-servicemen will be deployed in shifts for manning their housing societies round the clock. The same would be put in place within the next 15 days and will act as supplementary support to the police,” a statement by the DDA stated.