Saturday, September 8, 2012

Delhi became the focus of government activity in 1911 when the British shifted the capital from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Delhi. The initial location proposed for the capital was to the north of the Northern Ridge. It was later changed to the present location around Raisina Hills. Renowned town planners Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker planned the city of New Delhi in the year 1912. In 1922 a tiny Nazul Office, consisting of 10 to 12 officials, was set up in the Collectorate of Delhi, the first authority to regulate the planned development of the city. In 1937, the Nazul office was upgraded to an Improvement Trust, constituted under the provisions of the United Provinces Improvement Act, 1911, to control building operations and regulate land usage. India's independence in 1947 and resultant migration increased Delhi's population from 7 lakhs to 17 lakhs by 1951. Open spaces were occupied by migrants. Civic services virtually collapsed. Delhi Improvement Trust and Municipal Body, the two local bodies at that time, were not adequately equipped to cope up with the changing scenario. In order to plan Delhi and to check its rapid and haphazard growth, the Central Government appointed a Committee under the chairmanship of G. D. Birla in 1950. This Committee recommended a Single Planning & Controlling Authority for all the urban areas of Delhi. Consequently, the Delhi Development (Provisional) Authority - DDPA - was constituted by promulgating the Delhi (Control of Building Operations) Ordinance, 1955 (replaced by the Delhi Development Act, 1957) with the primary objective of ensuring the development of Delhi in accordance with a plan. On 30 December 1957, Delhi Development Authority acquired its present name and its role as the 9th builder of the grand city of Delhi. Currently, the DDA is involved in the construction work and preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. They are building a Games Village on the banks of the river Yamuna in East Delhi. The authority has its share of controversies, especially with the allegations of not planning for commercial requirements of Delhi. DDA - Delhi Development Authority instigated operations in 1957 under the Delhi Development Act for a well-planned, orderly and swift development of Delhi into a capital city in its true sense. The biggest challenge in front of the Ministry of Urban Development Delhi has always been to provide adequate residential and commercial infrastructure facilities to over 11 million people in the city. This metro and Capital of India has been attracting large number of immigrants from the neighboring cities and states and provided an accommodating atmosphere to all. The credit of this largely goes to the Housing Development Authority or DDA. Starting from the basic plan of Delhi by the legendary Edward Lutyens and Herbert Baker, DDA Regional Housing Authority had the challenge to develop a pre-painted canvas into a beautiful artifact that New Delhi surely is with plenty room for all and more to come.