Ambitious plan in place to spruce up Nehru Place

One hundred acres. Rs100 million. That's what it will take the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to spruce up Nehru Place.

Spread over an area of nearly 100 acres in South Delhi, Nehru Place will soon sport a new look with well-maintained roads and parking facilities, thanks to the DDA which is now cleaning up the mess left by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi over the years.

Traffic jams, untarred roads with potholes, pavements spilling with garbage and shanties, Nehru Place has been a Delhiite's nightmare. With public facilities in a deplorable state, hawkers squatting everywhere and inadequate parking space, it is in a total mess at the moment.

Says a South Delhi real estate agent, Sandeep Arora: "Over the last few years, Nehru Place has witnessed very low volume of transactions. It has resulted in being wiped off the list of multinationals and blue-chip Indian corporates. And it is all due to poor image, high level of congestion, parking problems, neighbouring slums and unstructured market."

Visibly, an area that caters to thousands of people daily, there are no pavements and hawkers are seen squatting all around.

The towering buildings forming the Nehru Place District Complex have narrow, dingy passageways and stairwells and barely any breathing space between shops. "We also have to earn a living," is a common sentiment expressed by shopkeepers.

The saving grace is DDA's initiative to build the first multi-level car park linked to commercial office development. It is located opposite the International Trade Tower (ITT) with development potential.

The major thrust seems to be on developing the roads and parking space in the area, which are in bad shape. Soon, basements are likely to be cleared for development of parking space.

The clearing of the slums adjoining ITT has also turned the surroundings more congenial. A mega shopping-cum-office arcade with restaurants by DDA is coming up on the land reclaimed from slums.

The DDA further plans to step up security in the area, especially during the night. "This is being done, as the vision entails the creation of a night shopping complex. Nehru Place will soon be a mini-shopping city," said a DDA official.

Other attractions like a food plaza are being planned. As also public art and attractive street furniture will be introduced on the major arterial roads in the area. Clock towers, phone booths, colourful seating and designer lighting have been envisaged under the project.

Apart from the complex itself, the landscaped area behind the Lotus Temple will be incorporated into the neglected land lying behind Nehru Place. This 100 acres land will be utilised to create a spiritual park.