Master plan for Delhi

HT Correspondent, New Delhi, August 27

The new master plan under preparation will aim at making Delhi a beggar-free and slum-free city. It emphasises on development with a human touch where the unorganised sector, elderly, children and disabled will also get facilities.

A presentation on the conceptual approach of the new master plan was made before Lt.-Governor B.L. Joshi and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit by DDA officials.

According to the plan, the unorganised sector including domestic servants, will be given facilities. They will also be able to avail of co-operative and collective community rehabilitation programmes.

The new approach is in tandem with the UPA government’s directive of development with a humanface. Environmental considerations and heritage conservation have been given priority in the plan.

This would mean that permission will be granted only to particular categories of industries and for certain types of fuel. Importance will be laid on tackling water and noise pollution.

On the traffic and transportation front, DDA has emphasised on restructuring of the Mass Rapid Transportation System (MRTS) so that maximum number of people are encouraged to use it, rather than buses and private cars. Bicycle users and pedestrians will also get their due. Parking space will be given special emphasis.

The development agency has also decided to integrate infrastructure with development. This means that water availability will have to be ensured for all development projects