Union home minister Amit Shah, on December 26, 2019, laid the foundation stone for the country’s first transit-oriented development (TOD) project in New Delhi, under which a state-of-the-art infrastructure zone, including the national capital’s tallest tower, will be built in east Delhi. The project – ‘East Delhi Hub’ at Karkardooma – spread over 30 hectares, will come up in the next three-and-a-half years, officials said. The hub will be developed around the existing two Delhi Metro stations at Karkardooma, on the Blue and Pink Lines, and will include a massive open landscaped green area, besides a 48-storey signature tower that will come up in the first phase of the project.
The land is owned by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which has chosen National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) for implementing the project’s first phase. “The project will have mixed-land use, 70% residential, 20% commercial and 10% for civic amenities, besides housing facilities for people belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS). The area will be developed around two existing metro stations,” the Shah said. According to the information shared by the NBCC, 4,526 residential units would be built and 1,108 in the first phase, besides 2,088 units for EWS (522 in phase-I).
“One of the most unique parts of this TOD project is that it will have a central massive green lung of about 10 acres, inside it. While south Delhi has a number of huge gardens and lawns, east Delhi does not have such a huge recreational space, so we incorporated it,” Dikshu C Kukreja of architecture firm C P Kukreja Architects, which designed the hub, said. He said the hub had been designed with complete sustainability model and will have vertical gardens and water-harvesting facilities. “There will be a huge plaza near the metro stations and skywalks to take people directly to destinations without stepping onto streets,” Kukreja said.
DDA approves transit-oriented development policy
The DDA has approved its transit-oriented development policy, which is focussed on development taking place around a transit corridor
September 17, 2019: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), on September 17, 2019, in a statement, said that it had approved its transit-oriented development (TOD) policy, which is focussed on development around or along a transit node or corridor and facilitates complete ease of access to that transit facility, thereby inducing people to walk, cycle and use public transportation over personal modes of transport. The decision was taken in the urban body’s Authority meeting chaired by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, who is also the chairman of the DDA.
Through increased floor area ratio (FAR) and density, TOD norms may provide a variety of housing types, for a range of income brackets and demographic types in the city, the DDA said. To facilitate this, in all TOD integrated schemes, a minimum component of 30% of overall FAR shall be mandatory for residential use. EWS FAR of 15% over and above the proposed FAR will be applicable, the urban body said. “TOD policy would open up development opportunity to the private sector, to bring in investment into the city, building its growth and revenue and also help cross-subsidise social amenities, affordable housing and public transport, using a variety of possible financial development models,” it said.
Benefits of TOD include compact mixed-use, mixed-income developments where residential, commercial, civic or institutional establishments are located close to each other and allow local communities to be formed, with vibrant round-the-clock active spaces (like plazas, shared parks and open spaces, and other facilities) for leisure and recreation.
Centre frames new Transit-Oriented Development policy
In a move aimed at addressing the challenges of urbanisation, the centre has formulated a policy to promote living close to mass public transport corridors like metros, monorails and bus rapid transit systems
February 27, 2017: The centre has formulated a National Transit-Oriented Development Policy and will discuss the same with states and union territories (UTs), at a national workshop on urban development on February 28, 2017, according to an official release.
The centre’s policy seeks to promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) – a type of infrastructure development, which enables people to live within walking or cycling distance from transit corridors, which are being undertaken in India at a large scale. TOD is considered as a viable solution to urban challenges like haphazard growth, mobility problems, congestion due to rising private vehicles on roads and pollution, among others.
The Ministry of Urban Development is also incentivising the TOD under the new Metro Policy and Green Urban Mobility Scheme that seeks to create non-motorised transport infrastructure in cities, like footpaths and cycle-tracks.
See also: Transit-oriented development: Making affordable destinations accessible
The ministry’s initiative comes in the context of over 300 kms of metro lines being operational in seven cities, with another 600 kms of metro line projects being under construction in 12 cities and over 500 kms of projects under consideration. Bus rapid transit systems (BRTS) projects in 12 cities are under different stages of construction and eight more cities are set to take up BRT projects. Mass rail transit system of 380 kms length is being taken up in Delhi, the statement said.
The TOD policy is being taken up in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Naya Raipur, Nagpur and Navi Mumbai.
It also aims at inclusive development, by ensuring mixed neighbourhood developments, in the form of a range of housing choices including affordable housing and ensuring spaces for street vendors.
States and UTs will be required to incorporate TOD in their master plans and development plans of cities, besides identifying ‘Influence Zones’ from transit corridors for tapping revenue streams.
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