The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has written to Union urban development minister Jaipal Reddy and ask for clarification from Delhi Development Authority(DDA) on whether retail shops, big showrooms and offices can function from mixed land use streets. According to the civic agency, the Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee had raised objections to allowing them to function on mixed land use roads. Clarification on various other issues have also been sought.
Said standing committee chairman Vijender Gupta: ``According to our understanding of this issue, all types of commercial activity except those that figure on the negative list of the Master Plan 2021 are allowed to operate on mixed land use roads. Hence, big showrooms, offices and retail shops should be allowed to function from these roads.''
The MCD has also sought clarification on whether building plans can be sanctioned in respect of plots along notified commercial roads. Such plans have not been passed since over a year. Added Gupta: ``Special conversion charges for plots abutting on notified commercial use roads and regulations regarding FAR allowed on such plots should be notified by the DDA without further loss of time so that regularisation action may be taken up.''
Moreover, shops operating from basements on mixed land use roads are allowed to do so as per MPD-2021 and may continue to do so subject to regulation charges for excess FAR. However, such charges, along with charges to be taken from banquet halls and other commercial activities carried out from industrial areas, have also not been notified by the DDA.
There is also confusion regarding coaching centres running in residential premises. According to MCD, they will be allowed to continue functioning till the end of May 2008 as owners of such centres are liable to pay conversion charges only till then.
Source: Times Of India, Dated, March-24-2008
