Latest news with #NewDelhiMunicipalCouncil
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
NDMC issues uniform signage rules for Khan Market; extra charges for boards over 2.5 sq mt
New Delhi, The New Delhi Municipal Council has issued a set of comprehensive guidelines for standardising shop signage and facades in Khan Market, one of the most posh and high-end markets in Lutyens' Delhi. NDMC issues uniform signage rules for Khan Market; extra charges for boards over 2.5 sq mt The move is aimed at enhancing civic aesthetics and ensuring architectural uniformity across the nationally renowned shopping and dining destination. According to the guidelines, all shopkeepers and premises owners are required to replace existing signage with new ones, conforming to the prescribed design within two months. In case of non-compliance, the NDMC will remove improper signage without issuing further notice. The guidelines permit shop signage to span the full width of the storefront if desired by the owner. However, as per the Delhi Outdoor Advertising Policy, 2017 framed under directions from the Supreme Court and finalised by the Environment Pollution Authority any signage exceeding 2.5 square metres will be subject to additional charges. The standard signboard size is 450 mm in height and 900 mm in length, backed by a pre-coated grey metal sheet. Retractable awnings are allowed, with a maximum projection of 1000 mm, while permanent awnings are not permitted. The document also regulates the installation of air-conditioning units, false facades, and drainage elements. Ground floor AC outdoor units must not project more than 750 mm from the wall surface. False facades are permitted to extend up to 200 mm from the original wall. Rainwater and drainage pipes on upper floors must be properly encased and connected to the municipal drainage system. To maintain visual clarity, all hanging wires must be removed, and water tanks placed on terraces must be screened from public view using suitable materials. These guidelines apply to all shop typologies including single-front, double-front, corner shops, rear-lane shops, and corridor-facing outlets. Sanjeev Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders' Association, told PTI, 'We have requested the NDMC to provide a detailed presentation on the type of signboards that need to be installed so that everything is clarified at once. The NDMC is scheduled to give this presentation on Monday .' The initiative is part of NDMC's broader effort to create uniformity in urban design and preserve the elite and historic character of key commercial zones in the Lutyens' Delhi. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Super Bazar: Delhi's original mega store eyes a 21st-century reboot
The iconic Super Bazar near Connaught Place — once Delhi's pride and India's first superstore — may be on the verge of a revival, with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) initiating the process of hiring an advisor for its redevelopment. Super Bazar head office near Connaught Place. Operated by NDMC, the six-storey store had become a familiar landmark. (HT ARCHIVE) On Thursday, the civic body's architecture department issued a public notice inviting bids for the selection of financial and transaction advisors for the redevelopment of three NDMC-owned properties — Super Bazar, Khan Market, and Yashwant Place. The proposed project is to be executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. 'NDMC proposes to select financial and technical advisors for redevelopment of properties belonging to NDMC located at Super Bazar, Khan Market and Yashwant Place in PPP mode. The eligible firms should be empaneled as transaction advisors with the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance,' the notice issued by the chief architect's office states. A senior NDMC official said the initiative was in its early stages, but crucial groundwork had been laid. 'The Super Bazar building is now fully under the NDMC's control, after years of legal wrangling. A consultant will be appointed to explore redevelopment possibilities, assess costs, and help us optimise revenue generation from all three sites. Super Bazar is wholly owned by the council, while several properties in Khan Market and Yashwant Place also belong to the NDMC,' the official added. More than just a building, Super Bazar was once a symbol of Delhi's modernising spirit. Inaugurated in 1966, in the shadow of the 1965 India-Pakistan war, it was envisioned by the Congress-led central government as a bulwark against inflation — a people's store that would keep prices under check. It sold everything from subsidised sugar to palm oil, vegetables to HMT watches, stationery to construction material, even transistors, and, when they eventually became available, computers. Operated by the NDMC, the six-storey store on the Outer Circle of Connaught Place had become a familiar landmark. But the glory was not to last. By the mid-1990s, the store began sinking under the weight of poor management, overstaffing, and outdated practices. It was finally shut in 2002. A 2018 report by the ministry of consumer affairs pinpointed the beginning of its decline to 1996, attributing the downfall to 'overstaffing, failure of management, inadequacy of working capital, and a lack of competitive approach'. With the arrival of the city's first mall — Ansal Plaza — in 1999, and the swift embrace of mall culture that followed, Super Bazar slipped out of the collective memory of a rapidly globalising capital. For over two decades, the now-decrepit building remained caught in a prolonged arbitration between the government and employee unions over closure and payment of dues. NDMC officials confirmed that this process has finally concluded, and the civic body has undisputed possession of the structure. HT had reported about the neglected decrepit building and its history last year. The building itself stands on land allotted in 1962 by the Centre's Land and Development Office (L&DO), with the condition that it be used for commercial purposes — specifically, a shopping centre. 'It is likely that the site will be used as a shopping complex even after redevelopment as its use is clearly marked in the master plan of Delhi,' an official said. The scope of redevelopment at Khan Market and Yashwant Place will focus on NDMC-owned properties alone. Many units in these markets include shops at the ground level with residential quarters above, and a number of these continue to remain under NDMC ownership. Sanjiv Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders Association, noted that the properties owned by NDMC in the area include the PR Market and Lok Nayak Bhawan.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
From tomorrow, brace for traffic curbs around Delhi's Gole Market for 6 months. Check the advisory
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a comprehensive traffic advisory in light of the upcoming conservation and restoration work at the historic Gole Market building. Starting July 25, major traffic restrictions and diversions will be in place around the Gole Market roundabout and Bhai Veer Singh Marg for an estimated period of six months, traffic officials said. The civic project, spearheaded by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), includes the restoration of the Gole Market as a museum, along with the redevelopment of the surrounding area, construction of a subway, and a new service block. The market, a 12-sided marvel with six entrances and a central courtyard, will be the first-of-its-kind museum in the country dedicated to women achievers from different spheres. The market, which had fallen into disrepair after being closed for over a decade, will be retrofitted with conservation efforts at a projected cost of Rs 21.66 crore, an NDMC statement said last year. Here is the advisory: Traffic movement will be restricted in both directions between the Gole Market roundabout and Bhai Veer Singh Marg. However, access to Bhai Veer Singh Marg will still be available via Kali Bari Marg, GPO roundabout, and specific service lanes. Authorities have warned that additional traffic diversions or regulations may be implemented in accordance with evolving on-ground requirements and the progress of construction work. To manage vehicular flow in the area, specific route regulations have been announced. Vehicles coming from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg (Outer Connaught Circle) will be required to take a right at Gole Market roundabout and proceed via Peshwa Road or RK Ashram Marg. Vehicles heading towards GPO roundabout via Gole Market roundabout from Mandir Marg must use Kali Bari Marg. For heavy vehicles, the recommended alternative route is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Road via Talkatora roundabout. Additionally, traffic approaching the GPO roundabout from RK Ashram Marg must follow the Panchkuian Marg–Bangla Lane–Peshwa Road route. In terms of parking, vehicles will only be allowed in designated zones. Parking on service lanes near Gole Market roundabout and Udyan Marg will be prohibited, and any improperly parked vehicles will be towed and prosecuted under relevant laws. Commuters are encouraged to avoid the affected stretches altogether and use public transport where possible to ease congestion. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is also considering modifying certain bus routes to help bypass the construction zone and maintain the smooth flow of public transportation. Passengers heading to crucial transit points like IGI Airport, New Delhi Railway Station, or ISBTs are urged to plan their journeys in advance, said officials.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
NDMC trains staff to fight vector-borne diseases, holds citywide awareness drives
NEW DELHI: With the monsoon season increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Tuesday conducted a training session for its field and supervisory staff on preventing and containing dengue, chikungunya, and malaria. The training session saw participation from over 250 sanitary inspectors, assistant inspectors, surveillance workers, and officials from the civil and horticulture departments. The initiative aimed to strengthen the technical capacity of frontline workers and promote effective on-ground action. NDMC Secretary Tariq Thomas stressed that prevention, timely treatment, and public awareness were crucial to tackling these diseases. He urged civic staff to focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites and promoting hygiene through widespread outreach campaigns. 'Massive awareness drives across NDMC areas, including schools, colleges, public spaces, markets and residential colonies, are the need of the hour,' he said, suggesting the use of street plays, IEC material, mobile vans, SMS alerts, and social media to reach citizens of the capital. Thomas also underlined the importance of empowering ground staff to conduct regular fogging, anti-larval operations, and inspections of both public and private premises. These activities, he said, are vital to disrupting the mosquito life cycle. During the session, Dr. Aditi, Zonal Epidemiologist from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, offered detailed guidance on identifying mosquito species, particularly the Aedes mosquito responsible for dengue. She also spoke about breeding habits, symptoms, and simple preventive measures. Experts at the session noted that while there are no vaccines currently available for dengue and chikungunya, controlling mosquito breeding remains the most effective line of defence. 'Prevention is far easier than cure,' one of them remarked. Dr Shakuntla Shrivastava, Medical Officer of Health, NDMC, expressed confidence that the trained workforce would carry out their duties with greater efficiency following the session.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘How can they wake up one day, ask us to leave?': Palika Dham complex in Delhi declared unsafe, residents told to vacate
Walk through the black gate of the Palika Dham Housing Complex in Gole Market, and you're met with a long row of modest grey buildings that have seen better days — broken tiles reveal the brickwork beneath, seepage marks stain the walls, and small plants have taken root in the cracks. Recently, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) declared the buildings unsafe and asked residents to vacate their homes. In a notice issued on July 11, residents were directed to register their names and details on the NDMC's e-Awas Portal between July 14 and 16 to apply for alternative housing. Verification of these applications was to be completed by July 17. 'Failure to do so will result in non-allotment of alternative accommodation at new locations… the existing quarters will have to be vacated compulsorily,' the notice further read. The announcement has left residents divided — all of whom are government employees, both retired and currently serving. Pointing to a broken window in her flat from the road, Roshni, an employee with the NDMC's health department, said, 'They are asking us to vacate for a valid reason. What if an accident takes place? Who will be responsible?' She said that a month ago, her sister-in-law suffered injuries to her back after plaster from the ceiling at her home fell on her. 'Moving and shifting the children to other schools will be a hassle, but it is better than living with a daily risk.' She added that the water tankers located above the homes have caused seepage and weakened the ceilings. Since the 1970s, the complex has been home to more than a hundred government employees, said residents. It also includes a gym, a temple, and a baraat ghar (wedding hall). Another employee with the health department, who was bringing his two children back from school on a two-wheeler, agreed that the apartments are in bad shape. 'I hope they allot a place nearby. But even if it is a little far from the school, I will drop my children.' However, President of the Residents' Welfare Association (RWA), Raju Dhakolia, said the solution is not to evict residents. 'Ever since the buildings were constructed in the 1970s, no repairs have been undertaken. Suddenly, 150 flats need to be emptied. How can they wake up one fine day and ask us to move out, declaring our homes unsafe?' said Dhakolia, a retired NDMC electricity department employee. The RWA has submitted a letter to the New Delhi Assembly constituency MLA, Parvesh Sahib Singh, requesting him to solve the problems faced by residents. Their concerns include broken handpumps, lack of security guards, overgrown trees, and leakage in water pipelines. When contacted, NDMC officials said these houses are brick masonry structures constructed in 1974. 'The NDMC places highest priority on the safety and welfare of its employees. After a detailed structural assessment, the Palika Dham flats, which are more than 50 years old and have outlived their lifespan, were declared unsafe for habitation. The safety of residents cannot be compromised under any circumstances. However, regular maintenance of these flats was being carried out by the council,' an official said. The official added that the civic body has taken proactive steps to ensure that affected residents are offered new, suitable and more spacious alternative accommodations.
