Designer huts come in south Delhi neighbourhood parks

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s horticulture department is installing thematic gazebos (designer huts) in all neighbourhood parks to make them ‘aesthetically pleasing’ and to draw more people.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s horticulture department is installing thematic gazebos (designer huts) in all neighbourhood parks to make them ‘aesthetically pleasing’ and to draw more people.

Designer huts constructed in parks by South Corporation at the Sarvodaya Enclave central park in New Delhi. (Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times)

Such huts have been placed at six major parks in Sarvodaya Enclave, at Subhash Park in RK Puram Sector 2, near DDA Flats in Munirka, in Nangal Raya, in Green park extension and Tilak Nagar.

Corporation officials said the huts received positive response from the residents, prompting the civic body to develop the facility in 30 other parks in south and central zones.

“We have identified the major parks in different wards and work has already started at some places. We target to complete the project in three months. Each gazebo will cost us Rs 6 lakh,” said a SDMC official.

Gazebos can be constructed in various shapes —rectangular, triangular or circular.

“The design of these gazebos is inspired by Buddhist temples. These have tiled roofs with designer iron pillars, sculptures and a rooftop adorned with carved figures of birds and floral designs. The sculptures of these huts are a visual treat,” said an official from the horticulture department of SDMC.

The red terracotta tiles installed on the roofs of such huts prevent leakages if it rains. The designer huts have sitting arenas that can accommodate 15-30 people at a time.

Construction work has been outsourced to a private company that has engaged skilled artists for designing them.

“We have been avoiding any concretisation in the parks as per an NGT order,” said the official.

The agency has made provision for ramps to make these designer huts disabled-friendly.

The south corporation maintains 6,818 parks over an area of 2,169 acres under its jurisdiction. In Phase II, the agency plans to develop designer huts in 607 parks. The project will cost SDMC Rs 36.50 crore.