Centre gets tough on Delhi's posh markets

Centre proposes a ban on commercial activities, except for professional services, in most of Delhi's posh colonies.

The Centre on Thursday proposed a ban on commercial activities, except for professional services, in most of Delhi's posh colonies, but recommended a liberal mixed-land use in middle and lower-middle class residential zones.

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Any other activity in colonies designated by the MCD as of A and B categories -- such as Greater Kailash and South Extension -- may be permitted on specific requests from their resident welfare association, a Central public notice on the recommendations of the Tejendra Khanna committee on Delhi's town planning said.

Also, commercial use of residential premises will be allowed in the C and D category colonies -- such as East of Kailash, Dwarka and Daryaganj -- only after consultations with RWAs, the notice, which invited public opinion on the panel's recommendations before their implementation next month, said.

Under pressure mostly from store owners, the Congress-led government, whose law suspending MCD demolition and sealing drives for a year came in for stinging observations by the Supreme Court, recommended liberal mixed-land use in colonies categorised as E, F and G -- home to a large population of Delhi's middle and lower-middle income groups.

Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken told reporters that the Centre has also proposed to allow commercial activities in colonies like Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazar and Chandni Chowk, which he recalled were declared commercial in 1962 but lost that designation in 2001.

"Residential areas and streets/stretches earlier declared commercial or where commercial use was allowed in master plan 1962 would also be allowed to continue such use..." the notice said.