STILL WAITING FOR TAKE-OFF

The great connectivity of Dwarka sub-city has been negated by the lack of basic facilities and a fuzzy commercial policy, finds Yog Maya Singh

Bulbul Sharma has fond memories of the one year she spent in Dwarka, before shifting with her family to Dhaula Kuan. She loved the open spaces, the congestion-free residential areas with no parking problem, the greenery...everything. However, mention `water', and her face falls. That is the one problem that Dwarka, the largest subcity in Asia with a 10-lakh population, has still not been able to solve.

Dwarka must be thanking its stars that it is not hosting any of the segments of the Commonwealth Games 2010. Only a few major hotel projects have been sanctioned, and there are talks of providing rooms for athletes in Dwarka and Jasola areas. The locality, spread over 29 sectors, of which 23 are currently functional, has lost out on other counts as well. A recent Delhi Police report claims that Dwarka is the most crime-hit area in Delhi.

Vantage point
Parts of this sub-city were developed as a part of DDA's Urban Expansion Projects. Dwarka is connected by the NH-8, Outer Ring Road, Najafgarh Road, Pankha Road and the Rewari Railway line. Residents have easy access to both the domestic as well as international airports. Vasant Kunj, Vasant Vihar, Janakpuri and Delhi Cantonment areas surround the sub-city.

Dwarka was developed in two phases by the DDA, which had wanted it to reflect the contemporary concepts of urban planning with a huge emphasis on environment and socio-economic factors. Keeping these in mind, around 40,000 residential units under selffinancing, mega-housing, HIG, MIG and incremental housing schemes have been developed in the sub-city. For the economically weaker sections, DDA planned a number of EWS, LIG and Resettlement Housing Schemes. Co-operative Group Housing Society (CGHS) forms a major component of housing type here. The six remaining sectors are to be developed as a Diplomatic Enclave on the lines of Chanakyapuri, and will be home to diplomats from around 39 nations.

As already mentioned one of the best things about Dwarka is its connectivity. Besides the Metro, which opened in 2005, it is also well connected to the domestic and international airports. There are plans of an Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) to be developed near Sector 23, which will supposedly be Delhi's largest ISBT.

Of the seven sports complexes planned, one has already been constructed. DLF has also proposed to build the country's largest exhibition-cum-convention centre in sector 24 by 2010. Sanction for five- and sevenstar hotels have been given and these are to be finished before the Games. The opening of the 32-lane Gurgaon Expressway is also a boon.

Commerce wanted
Connectivity notwithstanding, Dwarka does not fare well on the commercial front. While Gurgaon and Noida have become huge corporate hubs, Dwarka has not. The Metro changed things for the better, but a lot still needs to be done.

Naresh Arora of Paras Associates in Sector 9 says, "We look into both residential and commercial properties, and feel that Dwarka must do more to attract buyers. Currently, only the centrally located sectors like 4, 5, 6 and 9 see a high rate of occupancy. The Metro might have caused a 10 per cent increase in prices, but the effect has been negated because of recession.
"While earlier a 2-BHK flat could go for Rs 45-70 lakh, the current price is Rs 35-55 lakh. A lot of facilities need to be upgraded here. However, Dwarka is a really good option for those who like less crowded localities."

According to Shyam Chaddha, a real estate developer, "Dwarka has been able to establish a large number of district centres, community centres, numerous local shopping and convenience shopping centres, yet it still lacks the excitement of a vibrant neighborhood.

"We feel Dwarka needs to have a clear commercial policy, and has to move its attention beyond retailing."

Manisha Padhi, 15, has been staying at sector 6 with her family since December 2007. She says, "I think Dwarka is a very well planned residential area, but sooner or later one gets bored. Good markets are few and far between.

"Not all areas are connected by the Metro, and it's difficult to travel for miles to just watch a movie or hang out with friends. We need more development."

Courtesy:- HT dt:- 08-08-09