Witnessing a number of complaints from the public against the tent house owners for charging astronomical amount, for wedding arrangements, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has planned to create its own Pandals and Barat Ghar (wedding and banquet halls) for family functions, marriages and reception in a reasonable and affordable price with all the vital facilities such as parking, toilets and lawns. The pandals will be called as Utsav pandal.
Currently, the DDA has community centre, district centre for the people while the authority lends lands to the tent house owners and planners on rent for conducting marriages and functions.
"The aim of this proposal is to provide a space for the public to conduct marriage and receptions at an affordable price without involving the middle men or brokers. Currently, DDA give the land on rent but there have been numerous complaints for quite long against the tent house providers for charging very high price for wedding decorations such as tent, designs and pandals. These agents provide very beautiful and attractive designs but the charges are so high that a common middle class person can't afford. Thus, the authority has planned to construct pandals on its lands across the city," said official of DDA on condition of anonymity.
As per the officials, the DDA has come up with three designs of pandals, each of them will be allotted one hectare of land to set up. As per the designs, the first pandal will have one pukka hall (Permanent), few rooms, open area, toilet and the second one will be designed with only pillars and terrace (no walls), open space and toilets. While, third pandal will be open with space for toilets. Besides, all of them will have parking spaces and outer boundaries.
The process to finalise the designs of pandals has begun. Further, the concerned officials are working to find out space/lands for setting up of these pandals. The areas identified are in Dwarka, Rohini and Burari. "The land scouting process for other places is on the tracks", said an official adding the tender will issued soon once the authority will identify vacant land and spot in other areas.
The pandals will be affordable and the public can choose the design and decorate it with tents, flowers and others items in accordance with their budget. The pandals will be ready and booking will start by 2020, the official added.