Delhi govt set to amend DDA Act

With an aim to develop Delhi into a "world-class" city, the government has planned to amend Delhi Development Authority Act (DDA Act), to bring in new urban policies in tune with the new aspirations of people residing in the capital.

"To make Delhi a world-class city, a lot of changes would need to be amended with the DDA Act. A committee has already been appointed to look into this matter and it will soon make its suggestions, keeping in view the latest development requirements and aspirations of people of Delhi," Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday.

The first batch of applicants, who had applied for houses in Dwarka, were handed over their allotment documents on Saturday. Naidu said with change in people's aspirations, it was necessary to re-develop some old areas, both commercial as well as residential.

"Places like Khan Market are very old and need to be redeveloped and that's why a committee will look into the matter," he said.

DDA said that the committee has been appointed to look into the redevelopment scheme of urban markets like Khan Market and Meherchand Market, whereby such properties could be allowed to go hi-rise.

The urban body is governed under the DDA Act 1957, and all regulations and structural frameworks of the organisation are based on it.

The DDA Housing Scheme 2014, launched on September 1, offered 25,034 flats - EWS, LIG, MIG, HIG, Janta flats and one-room apartments, with prices ranging from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore, and closed on October 15.

Among them, the 22,627 one-bedroom apartments were a major draw for the people. Billed as the largest-ever in DDA's history, the scheme had received over 10 lakh applications.