Share
Dwarka will be the second diplomatic enclave in the Indian capital after Chanakyapuri.
At present the proposed land is a narrow 10-foot road on the outskirts of Dwarka in southwest Delhi, with marshy fields on either side. The need for a second diplomatic enclave arose after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) got several requests from a host of countries that were keen to have missions in a country that is touted as an emerging world power. More than 60 missions are in Chanakyapuri, in south Delhi, and there is hardly any land left for others. Embassies of at least 39 countries of Central Asia, South Asia and some smaller African and Latin American countries that operate from rented apartments in various parts of south Delhi will be allotted plots in the new area.
Looking at the place today, it is indeed hard to believe that in a few years swank embassy buildings will replace the paddy fields and diplomatic sedans take the place of the bullock carts that trundle through the rutted roads. Even basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, water and sewer lines are something unheard of by the residents of the villages nearby.
Three villages surround the 70-acre plot identified by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) after it got a request from the urban development ministry for land where the diplomatic enclave could come up. Divided into three sectors 27, 28 and 29, the area comes under phase-2 of the Dwarka development plan. While phase-1 construction is almost complete and is largely inhabited, the land covered in the second phase is still owned by villagers.
DDA says the diplomatic enclave planning is in the final stage. "We are in the final stage of planning. We have acquired most of the land and the process is on to acquire the remaining land needed to construct the diplomatic enclave. As soon as we acquire the land we will start construction and that will take about three years to get completed," DDA spokesperson told.
Realising the boom in property prices once the diplomatic enclave takes shape, property dealers have already set up shop and are quoting sky rocketing prices. The villagers themselves aren't too happy with the deal offered by DDA. The DDA has acquired land at throwaway prices. DDA just paid Rs.25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million) for an acre of land. The villages that come under this plan are Bamnoli, Bhartal and Dhul Siras.
DDA will take charge of the land and will provide basic infrastructure such as road and electricity and will then hand it over to the ministry of external affairs. Dwarka, which is supposed to be the largest sub-city in Asia, will also have the largest convention and exhibition centre. Slated to come up in Sector 24 on a 35-acre area by year 2010, it would be on a scale comparable to the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore and would be made up of three components - an International Convention and Exhibition Centre, hotels and commercial facilities.
Its proximity to the international airport, an expanding Metro network and other ambitious projects such as building India's largest convention centre were a few reasons why the government zeroed in on Dwarka to be the second diplomatic enclave.
Source: indiaenews dated 07 Aug'07
At present the proposed land is a narrow 10-foot road on the outskirts of Dwarka in southwest Delhi, with marshy fields on either side. The need for a second diplomatic enclave arose after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) got several requests from a host of countries that were keen to have missions in a country that is touted as an emerging world power. More than 60 missions are in Chanakyapuri, in south Delhi, and there is hardly any land left for others. Embassies of at least 39 countries of Central Asia, South Asia and some smaller African and Latin American countries that operate from rented apartments in various parts of south Delhi will be allotted plots in the new area.
Looking at the place today, it is indeed hard to believe that in a few years swank embassy buildings will replace the paddy fields and diplomatic sedans take the place of the bullock carts that trundle through the rutted roads. Even basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, water and sewer lines are something unheard of by the residents of the villages nearby.
Three villages surround the 70-acre plot identified by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) after it got a request from the urban development ministry for land where the diplomatic enclave could come up. Divided into three sectors 27, 28 and 29, the area comes under phase-2 of the Dwarka development plan. While phase-1 construction is almost complete and is largely inhabited, the land covered in the second phase is still owned by villagers.
DDA says the diplomatic enclave planning is in the final stage. "We are in the final stage of planning. We have acquired most of the land and the process is on to acquire the remaining land needed to construct the diplomatic enclave. As soon as we acquire the land we will start construction and that will take about three years to get completed," DDA spokesperson told.
Realising the boom in property prices once the diplomatic enclave takes shape, property dealers have already set up shop and are quoting sky rocketing prices. The villagers themselves aren't too happy with the deal offered by DDA. The DDA has acquired land at throwaway prices. DDA just paid Rs.25 lakh (Rs 2.5 million) for an acre of land. The villages that come under this plan are Bamnoli, Bhartal and Dhul Siras.
DDA will take charge of the land and will provide basic infrastructure such as road and electricity and will then hand it over to the ministry of external affairs. Dwarka, which is supposed to be the largest sub-city in Asia, will also have the largest convention and exhibition centre. Slated to come up in Sector 24 on a 35-acre area by year 2010, it would be on a scale comparable to the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore and would be made up of three components - an International Convention and Exhibition Centre, hotels and commercial facilities.
Its proximity to the international airport, an expanding Metro network and other ambitious projects such as building India's largest convention centre were a few reasons why the government zeroed in on Dwarka to be the second diplomatic enclave.
Source: indiaenews dated 07 Aug'07
Comment