Shifting of bus depot: HC raps DDA for not handing over plot

The Delhi High Court today rapped the DDA for not handing over to the DTC possession of one of the three plots for shifting the 50-acre Millennium bus depot built on fragile Yamuna river bed here for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
"Why you (Delhi Development Authority) have not handed over the land to the DTC at Karkari More in East Delhi. You had said in earlier affidavits that it will be given and now, you are saying that it will take time as the land belongs to an integrated project," a bench of Justice V K Shali said.
Meanwhile, the counsel for the DDA told the court that it has handed over the plots at Narela, Rohini and Sarai Kale Khan to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) or the Delhi government's transport department for shifting the Millennium bus depot.

"So far as the plot at Karkari More is concerned, it will take almost six more months. It is difficult to carve out 20 acre out of a huge plot which actually belongs to Northern Railways and is part of an integrated project," Rajiv Bansal, appearing for DDA, said.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the DTC, opposed the submission saying that 20 acre plot, which has been given to the DTC at Sector 4 in Rohini, has no access road.
The DTC has not been handed over the "actual possession" of the plot at Sarai Kale Khan, the ASG said.

As the latest status report, filed by the DDA, was not on record, the court asked the land developing agency to ensure that the report is brought on the judicial file and asked the DTC to file a response to it by September 24, the next date of hearing.

Earlier, the DTC had alleged that DDA has not so far handed over the actual possession of any of the three sites to it for shifting the Millennium bus depot.
Earlier, Delhi government had told the court that it will take nine months to shift the depot, built on fragile Yamuna river bed at a cost of Rs 60 crore ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Later, DTC had informed that it will vacate the depot by October 31.