MCG sets new deadline to take over 3 phases in DLF

GURUGRAM: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has formed an 11-member transition panel to finalise the modalities for handing over DLF phases 1, 2 and 3, and resolve all the related issues by May this year, said the officials on Monday.

The committee, which was formed by MCG commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja on Friday, comprises six MCG officials, four representatives from DLF, and an official from the department of town and country planning (DTCP). The decision to form the committee was taken during a meeting between the MCG and the DLF on April 13, the minutes of which were approved by the authorities on Friday. During the meeting, Ahuja had also directed the DLF to hand over the three colonies to the civic body, latest by May 31. The committee will check all the rules and regulations regarding the handover and finalise the documents on which the official transition from the DLF to the MCG will be completed, said the officials.

“The committee has been formed to smoothen the handover. Their main responsibility will be to put in place all documentation and address liabilities, verify services plans and deficiencies as listed in the detailed project reports (DPRs), and ensure compliance of all relevant rules and guidelines for the handover,” said Vivek Gill, superintending engineer of MCG, who is also a member of the committee. The DLF representatives, who attended the April 13 meeting, said that “the transition committee has been formed to streamline the handover by the DLF”. The handover will take place once the completion certificate is granted by the DTCP, said the representatives, adding that “the committee may continue to operate even after the handover is completed”.

“The three DLF colonies are spread over 1,521 acres. Nearly 800 workers — including housekeeping, landscaping, security services, electricity, and water supply — are employed in the day-to-day maintenance. Questions on whether the MCG will deploy its own resources or assign the work to DLF Estate as one of its contractors or will carry out the day-to-day maintenance operations jointly are yet to be addressed by the panel,” said Rohit Sharma, director of DLF Estate Developers Limited.

Sharma also said that handing over such a large area may require some more time for a smooth transition — in the interest of thousands of residents, and that the work could be done in a unified manner. As per the minutes of the April 13 meeting, a copy of which is with HT, the DLF officials informed the MCG that nearly 95% of the work as mentioned in the DPR of DLF phases 1, 2 and 3 has been completed, and the same has been duly checked and verified by the MCG’s inspection team.

“The MCG commissioner has directed the DLF to transfer the colonies latest by May 31. A meeting will be held within the next two weeks, to determine the status of the pending work. After this, the MCG and the DLF will conduct a joint survey for a proper assessment,” said Gill.

The MCG carried out a survey in 2017 to determine the civic deficiencies in the three DLF colonies. As per the DPR, ₹14.12 crore was required to fix deficiencies in DLF Phase 1, ₹9.43 crore for DLF Phase 2, and ₹11.89 crore for DLF Phase 3. For the fifth time, the MCG had to extend the previous deadlines — February 15 and December 31 in 2021, and June 30, 2021 — to May 31 this year for the handover of the three colonies.