Shri Tejendra Khanna, Honorable Lieutenant Governor, Delhi and Chairman, Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) and Delhi Development Authority launched the Transit Oriented Development [TOD] Workshop Series at the India International Centre, New Delhi on 21.02.2013 at 10.30 a.m. A large number of experts, Vice-chairman and Senior Officers of DDA were present.
Speaking on the occasion the Hon’ble Lt. Governor said that though Delhi is one of the best Metropolitan Cities and has seen massive infrastructure development during Commonwealth Games-2010, there are still many areas which are under severe stress mode and therefore, greater micro-planning, development and re-development is required. He agreed with the contention that pedestrians should be given preference and that there is huge deficit in water and management of waste disposal etc and thus many issues are required to be tackled at a bigger scale with a professional approach. This can lead positive transformation of the city to make it a Global Metropolitan City. He appreciated the concept of transit oriented development presented by the experts and said that everyone should be partner in this development.
Shri Bhure Lal [APCA] emphasized that Transit Oriented Development will be a challenge to the authorities because of its implementation and because the Town Planning has already been done. According to him, width of the roads may be problem. He also talked about sufficient parking spaces etc. Shri Rajbal, Chairman, DUAC appreciated the overall TOD policy and said that it may be difficult but ground realities like design, implementation and up-keep should be kept in mind.
Vice-chairman, DDA while welcoming the guests said that through the TOD development the City of Delhi will be able to combat one of the gravest issues being faced by its environment and convenience and comfort of the citizens. According to him, in order to ensure maximum participation in the finalization of the policy the series of Workshops are being held and for which frequency and dates are being finalized. The objective of the Workshops, according to him, is to create awareness regarding the policy, identify possible implementation hurdles and incorporate the concerns of stakeholders, agencies etc in the policy. He further elaborated that despite massive investment in public transport system which includes world class Metro, BRT etc., there has not been affordable mobility options for the citizens. This coupled with ever increasing number of private vehicles, has created a sort of mobility crisis. Therefore, TOD is a paradigm shift in all sectors of the mobility, Planning and Transport System and infrastructure in the form of the policy. He expressed his confidence that with this policy City will be able to retain its character and overcome the pressures of increasing population and urbanizations.
The Transit Oriented Development Policy puts forth a strategy to restructure and redefine how our city works, lives and finds means of recreation. The Vision is to make our city of Delhi safer, greener, more equitable, transparent and democratic. The previous planning approach where all sectors worked separately as specialist agencies is being replaced with a more integrated holistic paradigm of planning.
It also speaks of as to how both the public and private sectors need to work hand-in-hand to realize this vision and deliver it on ground. According to it, from delivery and management of affordable housing stock, wider choice of commercial establishments, adequate social amenities, and provision of decentralized infrastructure to the creation of high quality public realm, the involvement of both the public and private players is essential.
For further testing the draft policy and to ensure that the policy recommendations are robust, viable and deliverable on ground, UTTIPEC is organizing a series of 25 workshops under the following nine theme-based series to arrive at an implementation strategy for rolling out TOD across the city:
Economic feasibility & market testing
Strategy for sustainable infrastructure
Strategy for incentivising redevelopment
Strategy for effective parking
TDR & its implementation
Strategy for sustainable transport infrastructure
Planning interface of TOD IZP & LAPs
Strategy for rolling out TOD
The launch ended by a call for all Senior Officers of the Administration, experts, professionals and private agencies working on the ground to come forward and take the lead in testing the policy further for its deliverability. The Hon’ble LG appealed to the attendees to volunteer to Champion the Workshops and provide full support in the formulation of the Policy.
