In the lines of World Trade Centre, New York, the national Capital will soon have a state-of-the-art World Trade Center (WTC) in Nauroji Nagar of South Delhi. The commercial hub will have 12 towers spanning over 60 lakh sq feet spread across 25 acre. This would be Delhi's first World Trade Centre under licence from WTC, New York. The construction of the building is the part of the redevelopment plan of Nauroji Nagar area.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday laid the foundation of the project. Besides, the Government has also decided to redevelop Netaji Nagar colony as a part of its plan to redevelop seven seven old General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) colonies, for central government employees. The other colonies are: Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Tyagraj Nagar, Srinivaspuri, Kasturba Nagar and Mohammadpur. NBCC, will be the implementing and marketing agency for both the projects.
According to officials, the WTC project is expected to be completed by 2020. “The World Trade Centres Association (WTCA) has given licences for the development of 21 World Trade Centres in the country. Redevelopment of Nauroji Nagar has been approved by WTCA for World Trade Centre license in June 2017, The WTC in Nauroji Nagar is expected to be completed by 2020,” said sources in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. At present five WTCs are operational at Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Noida and Kochi.
As on date, the NBCC has already sold nearly 3.4 lakh sqft office space in two of the towers for approx Rs 1,400 crore to PFC, HDFC, HPCl, SIDBI, Energy Efficiency Services, RITES etc. The commercial hub will have integrated building management systems, smart features for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), safety and security systems besides modern waste management systems. It will have all the modern facilities, an aesthetically-designed facade and a pleasing landscape. The WTC stimulates trade and investment opportunities for commercial property developers, economic development agencies, and businesses looking to connect globally and prosper locally. There are over 300 WTCs spread in 90 countries.
The integrated business hub at Nauroji Nagar will have independent offices with direct connectivity from airport, railway and metro stations, retail outlets, food court, conference facilities, business centres, art galleries and three-layered basement parking for 8,014 cars.
So construction cost for all these colonies will be Rs 32,000 crore and out of that Rs 25,000 crore worth of works will be executed by NBCC and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will execute the remaining projects, which are smaller in size, worth Rs 7,000 crore.
Addressing after laying the foundation stone, Naidu said there is a need to build green buildings and promote energy efficient and smart mobility solutions for optimum utilization of scarce resources and spaces. “There is also a need to promote the concept of green and energy efficient buildings in a big way and create greater awareness among the citizens”, Naidu said. Speaking on the occasion, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the WTC in Nauroji Nagar and redevelopment of GPRA colony in Netaji Nagar are the most powerful expression of transforming and greening of the national capital.