MCD HQ to house rooftop eatery

Soon, the tallest building in the city will also house a roof-top restaurant.

Soon, the tallest building in the city will also house a roof-top restaurant.

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Running short of funds, MCD has hit upon a novel plan to convert the topmost floor of its headquarters into a restaurant.

As the building houses Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices, the restaurant will have a separate entrance and exit, with a dedicated elevator for people visiting it.

The civic body passed this proposal in its budget finalisation on Monday.

“All prominent structures in the city — from the Red Fort to the Qutub Minar, Parliament House, Lotus Temple — are visible from the building's roof-top. We want people to enjoy the view along with enjoying delicacies. This will also help us to generate revenue,” said Subhash Arya, leader of the MCD house.

Currently, Delhi has just one rooftop restaurant, Parikrama — the revolving restaurant — at Kasturba Gandhi Marg near Connaught Place.

However, experts from the hospitality industry have raised doubts about the viability of the project.

Apart from a food court and a library, the MCD has also set aside space in the Civic Centre for a banquet hall, multi-storeyed parking lots to accommodate nearly 2,500 cars, an art gallery and a helipad for emergency evacuation.

The civic agency has also decided to tie up with tour operators and guides to take tourists around the city. “We have spoken to a number of tour operators and they have shown a keen interest in the project. We will be able to implement it this year,” added Arya.