Residents of Lutyens’ Delhi call for redevelopment of their homes

NEWDELHI: With the Centre going ahead with its ambitious project to redevelop the Central Vista, residents of Babar Road, Sundar Nagar, Golf Links and five other residential neighbourhoods in Lutyens’ Delhi want the government to allow redevelopment in their areas as well.

They want the Centre to notify the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ) guidelines, prepared by the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) in 2015 so that they can avail higher Floor Area Ratio.In 2015, the DUAC proposed changing building guidelines in LBZ, shrinking the tony area by 5 sq km to 23 sq km, and excluding eight neighbourhoods.This meant development in these colonies could happen as per the Master Plan of Delhi-2021 (MPD2021) that allows FAR of up to 300 depending on plot size as compared to the older LBZ guidelines that restricted it at whatever is the current FAR of the plot.

When asked why the guidelines were not accepted, a senior official with the Union housing and urban affairs ministry declined comment citing that the matter is subjudice. Sabyasachi Das, former planning commissioner, DDA said: “The plots in residential colonies such as Bengali Market, Sundar Nagar etc are not bungalow plots but routine residential plots. In some of these areas, some houses are developed as per the MPD-2021 norms. The guidelines should be reviewed.” With the government planning to redevelop several of its office buildings in Lutyens’ Delhi, residents say they should be allowed relaxations. “When the government can redevelop, why are we forced to follow LBZ norms?” asked Ved Jain, a resident of Babar Road (Bengali Market).