Pay more for MCD, NDMC wedding halls

Getting hitched in the Capital just got more expensive — community centres in your neighbourhood may not fit in your budget anymore.

Getting hitched in the Capital just got more expensive — community centres in your neighbourhood may not fit in your budget anymore.

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Both the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have increased the rental charges for community halls.

For instance, renting out a hall in NDMC areas such as Moti Bagh for two days will cost Rs 1,34,999 and Netaji Nagar will come at a cost of Rs. 73,505.

NDMC charged between Rs. 10,000 and Rs 15,000 for renting out a baarat ghar earlier. For hiring MCD-owned halls, one will now have to pay between Rs 1,500 and Rs 25,000 instead of the earlier Rs 500-10,000. An extra Rs 1,500 will be charged as sanitation fee.

“All these centres have been renovated and look as good as a five star hotel,” said Anand Tiwari, spokesman of NDMC. “The charges include taxes.”

Community halls maintained by the MCD have been divided into categories A to E, based on their location and facilities provided. “In category A the cost is now Rs 25,000 (including security charges) for a day,” said Jagdish Mamgain, chairman of works committee, MCD.

Delhiites have been facing a shortage of marriage venues ever since the Delhi High Court banned wedding ceremonies in around 675 municipal parks from January this year. “Farmhouses and banquet halls are too expensive for middle class families. If these community centres will also become so expensive where will the common people go?” said Namrata Sharma, a resident of Munirka.