Skyscrapers for Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk?

With urban development minister Kamal Nath bringing back the focus on vertical expansion of Delhi, Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh may become the first areas to see skyscrapers in the city.

With urban development minister Kamal Nath bringing back the focus on vertical expansion of Delhi, Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh may become the first areas to see skyscrapers in the city.

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The MCD is working on local area plans (LAP) for Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and a few other areas that will look into the feasibility of vertical expansion.

“These areas were built a long time ago and have grown haphazardly. Since we cannot ask people to vacate and go somewhere else, the solution is to build skyscrapers and free the land for bigger roads and for infrastructure development,”said a senior MCD official.

LAP will help streamline development works in each municipal ward. The plans suggest developing areas like Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and Jahangirpuri vertically to create space for amenities like schools and roads.

“Once the proposals are submitted to the MCD, the civic body will get the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) increased to channelise vertical expansion,” said KS Mehra, the commissioner of MCD. The present rules allow a height of just 15metres or four floors (ground plus three floors).

LAP was started in 2009 and 33 of Delhi’s 272 wards were chosen as part of the pilot project. After the plans are submitted, other wards will also be asked to make their own such plans in consultation with stakeholders.

According to a senior official of MCD’s Town Planning Department, no deadline has been fixed as yet. “It is a very long drawn procedure that will look at all aspects such as housing, commerce and basic facilities. So it will take some time,” he said.