New Delhi: The notification of recent amendments in Master Plan of Delhi (MPD)-2021 has surely given a big relief to traders but the some questions are still looming.
Some traders’ organizations claiming it a half-coocked food which only bring a short-term relief to the traders.
The recent notification by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has no clarification on special market zones which are Kashmiri Gate, Sadar Bazar, Chandani Chowk, Karol Bagh and so on. These areas were kept under special category in the previous master plan and free from conversion charges. “The latest notification by the Ministery has no clarity on special zones. Weather the traders pay conversation charge or not and what about the development plan of these markets,” said Chamber Of Trade & Industry ( CTI ), national convenor Brijesh Goyel.
Moreover, there is no clarity on sealled shops. How and when one can deseal their shops. “Moreover than 10,000 shops are sealled during sealing drive but the notification has no clause to tackle with the desealing of shops,” Goyal asserted.
In a bid to provide relief to traders hit by the ongoing sealing drive in the national capital, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), on Friday, amended the Master Plan 2021.
In the notification, the floor area ratio (FAR) was increased from 180 to 300 and agricultural godowns on 12-metre wide roads were regularised. The penalty amount for non-payment of conversion charges was reduced to two times from the current 10 times.
Notably, a sealing drive is going on against business establishments using residential areas for commercial purposes without paying conversion charges.
A statement from the development authority said that under the amendments, commercial activity in the basements will be allowed in all commercial areas “subject to payment of requisite charges without any discrimination.”
According to the modifications, the individual plots, which do not form part of any cluster, will be governed by the provisions of the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 or the zonal development plans.
The meet also decided that parking will be provided in the commercial or residential areas as per the existing norms.
“The parking space is to be jointly provided by the concerned local bodies and concerned traders or the establishments in the vicinity. For the above purpose, 5 per cent additional ground coverage shall be permissible within the scheme area. In case there is no parking facility available in the vicinity, concerned local body may prepare appropriate model for declaration of such areas as pedestrian shopping street /markets/areas and shall be open to only public transport,” the DDA statement added.
“We have written letter to the Ministry, officials concern to address the issue clear the doubts of the traders,” Goyal added.
