Shifting of Millennium depot:HC seeks progress report from DDA

Delhi High Court today ordered DDA to give a progress report along with a time table on shifting to three locations the DTC Millennium bus depot, built at a cost of Rs 60 crore on the fragile Yamuna river bed ahead of 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Justice S K Mishra gave the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) time till the next date of hearing to file its report after the court was told by the land developing agency that it will need more time to implement the decision of the Lt Governor to relocate the depot to three other locations.
"Director, Planning, DDA to file an affidavit setting out a progress report in the matter along with a time table... The affidavit will also contain the names and particulars of all the agencies and officials who will be involved in the process.

"Every step taken (by the DDA) shall be examined on its own merit," the court said and listed the matter for further hearing on May 1.
DDA told the court that after the March 3 communication from the LG's office to relocate the depot, the agency resolved the issues of identification of land for relocation and the cost of the same, but it needs more time to sort out the issue of change of land use.
As per the March 3 communication, the LG has decided that DDA will allot 20 acres of land at Millennium park as well as Rohini IV to DTC for its depot.

It was also decided by the LG that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will shift its Institute of Driving and Traffic Research, running on an approximately 10 acre piece of land at Sarai Kale Khan, to a vacant site at Narela to be alloted by DDA, and the area at Sarai Kale Khan will also be used for relocating the depot.
The entire process, including obtaining necessary approvals for financial resources through coordination between the different authorities, was to be completed by March 7, 2014, the communication also said.
During the proceedings, the court was not happy with the arguments of the DDA and asked it to show that DTC is not shifting despite allocation of land to it.