IN & AROUND
THE MULTILEVEL PARKING IN HAUZ KHAS MARKET WAS INAUGURATED RECENTLY. IT IS OPEN FOR USE NOW. THE SHOPS HERE WILL BE RENTED OUT.
HT Live South Delhi, Thursday, March 08, 2012 www.hindustantimes.com
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Cars block bus stand It has an ideal location WHY I WILL NEVER LEAVE DEFENCE COLONY
Passengers cannot board a bus here as the buses do not halt. Students of two colleges suffer the most as most of them have DTC passes that go waste.
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The cars belong to shopkeepers operating in the area.
WASEEM GHASHROO / HT PHOTO
Garima Vohra ■
garima.vohra@hindustantimes.com
There is a designated bus stand opposite Venkateshwara College but there is no space for the buses to halt. The space in front of the bus stand is encroached by parked cars. The bus shelter is merely used as a place to rest and chat. In the present scenario, bus drivers avoid halting at the bus stand as it also affects the traffic movement. “We have to walk at least three km to board a bus as cars remain parked and there is no space either for the bus to halt or for the passengers to board,” says Sakshi Pathak, a second year student in Venkateshwara College. Adds Shiva Wani, a student, “Earlier, the cars were parked in one lane. But now they remain parked in two lanes leaving little space for the traffic to move.” DTC buses are a favoured mode of public transport among the students as there is no Metro station nearby. “We are dependent on buses as most of us have passes. There is no authorised auto stand.
After four in the evening it is difficult to find an auto,” says Rashaa Syed, a student at South campus. Vehicles are parked on the roadside as there is no authorised parking for the market. “The market has developed a lot in the recent years. Since there is no parking space for the shopkeepers and the visitors, it is convenient to park on the roadside,” says Ganesh Awasthi, a shopkeeper. Adds Kartar Singh, another shopkeeper, “We have asked the shopkeepers not to park in front of the bus stand but nothing will be effective until the concerned authority issues an order and makes a rule. Many students coming to these colleges also park their vehicles on the road.” “We have taken action against the violators from time to time but the area traffic police also need to be diligent. In the present situation, traffic is also being affected and it can only be controlled if the traffic police start issuing challans. We have already written to them,” says S Kumar, public relations officer, DTC.
Sewer pipelines yet to be replaced It has been five years and we are still waiting. It is surprising that the DJB has no solution to our problem.
Garima Vohra ■
garima.vohra@hindustantimes.com
The matter of the replacement of the sewer pipelines in Type2 quarters in Sarojini Nagar is pending in the files of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The residents have lost hope. They do not know who to look up to for a solution. “It has been five years and we are still waiting. It is surprising that an agency whose job is to take care of water and
C H E TA N S I N G H A L , resident
sewer problems in the city has no solution,” says Chetan Singhal, a resident.
Adds Navya Yadav, another resident, “Every time we submit a complaint, the junior engineer visits the site and assures that the problem will be resolved soon. Though the DJB had agreed to replace the pipelines three years back, the residents are still waiting for this to happen.” The problem is that there is no visible defect outside as most of the pipes are underground. But seepage in bathrooms and kitchens is common.
“The agency could not keep its promise. The officials do not give any response when we visit the zonal office,” says Singhal. According to the survey done three years back, 75% of the pipelines are corroded and need to be replaced. “We are suffering due to the lackadaisical attitude of the agency. Leakage continues throughout the year. When we call the zonal office, instead of finding a solution, a painter is
sent to paint the wall,” says Anshuman Singh, a resident. “The plan was put on hold as the agency found that the water pipelines were also corroded in many areas and required a replacement. We could not replace the sewer pipelines and leave the water pipelines as it would have created a problem later. We are planning to start the work in August this year,” says SS Singla, executive engineer, DJB.
and a good market
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Kaicker likes the fact that there are florists at the entrance of the market.
SUNIL SAXENA / HT PHOTO
The character of the colony has changed to a great extent after many bungalows have been converted into multi-storied houses. But the colony has improved a lot with time. There are better roads now, the garbage collection system is better, it looks cleaner and the parks are well maintained. The Defence Colony market has many good bakeries and we are able to savour the freshly baked breads, cookies and cakes. There are restaurants serving different cuisines and there are grocery shops, florists, chemists and dry cleaners to cater to things of daily need. Due to the presence of florists at the entrance of the market, one witnesses beautiful colours and freshness while entering the market. Due to the location of my
house, I have been able to enjoy both the Defence Colony market and Lajpat Nagar market. In all these 30 years, I have several fond memories and developed many beautiful relationships within the colony. Most of the festivals are celebrated here and the bond of friendship amongst the neighbours still exists and it is commendable. Being one of the best colonies of Delhi, it has better civic amenities. I do not remember any incident in the recent years when the residents had to deal with maintenance issues. Thus, it makes living in this colony more peaceful and comfortable. The colony is accessible from different parts of the city and it is safe. I love staying in Defence Colony and the reasons are infinite. The people are wonderful.
Neelam Kaicker
For my children, Defence Colony is where they have spent their childhood and growing up years. For me, it is the place where I have spent many years of my life and cherish each moment of it. Thirty years have just passed and I have witnessed the change in the character of the colony and the Defence Colony market that is popular among foodies.
THE DEFENCE COLONY MARKET HAS MANY GOOD BAKERIES AND ONE IS ABLE TO SAVOUR FRESHLY BAKED BREADS AND CAKES.
Liquor shops function Demand for bus route despite court order Garima Vohra ■
The residents of Block-A, East of Kailash, and those living around Sapna Cinema have been waiting for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to fix bus routes in the area for the last two years. “When the DTC was making new bus stops in the city, we had hoped that we too, would be allocated a bus route making travelling to other parts of the city convenient,” says Anand Mongia, a resident. Though the Metro station is
Garima Vohra ■
garima.vohra@hindustantimes.com
According to the Master Plan 2021, no shop in a Delhi Development Authority (DDA) convenience shopping centre (CSC) can be used as a liquor shop. The two liquor shops, shop number 8 and 11 in the CSC of Lado Sarai DDA flats are being used as liquor shops though in the writ petition filed in 2010, the High Court has clearly stated the closure of the shops. “There are no shops in the CSC selling milk, grocery or things of household needs. The two liquor shops have taken away the peace of the colony and have also affected the law and order situation in the area,” says Vinay Walia, a member of the residents’ welfare association (RWA) of Lado Sarai. The presence of the liquor shops has been creating problems both for the residents of the DDA flats and the inhabitants of Lado Sarai village. “There is rush for buying liquor since morning. As evening sets in, there is no place on the pavement. It remains full with people drinking openly and haphazardly parked vehicles block the traffic,” says Mohan Rai, a resident. Adds Walia, “Shop owners have also encroached upon some open area by conducting illegal construction behind and above the shops. There is no
a few km away, many commuters prefer to take a bus as there is no Metro feeder bus service in the area. “After getting down from the Metro, one is dependent on cycle rickshaws or auto rickshaws,” says Rishi Baweja, another resident. The residents feel that the DTC does not make route plans after considering the requirement of the area. “The frequency of the buses at other stops near the colony is also quite low. We have written several letters to the DTC but there has been no positive response,” adds Mongia. “Many bus stops are
not being used right now and the DTC is aware about it. New routes will be planned soon,” says DS Chand, superintendent, south zone, DTC. The residents are also talking with the DMRC for starting feeder bus service in the area. “There is a possibility of a feeder route from the Kailash Colony Metro station to Block-A or from the Moolchand Metro station to Iskcon Temple. The possibility of the acceptance of the second route is more as it will cover Lajpat Nagar-4 also,” says JK Sharma, a member of the RWA of Block-A.
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These shops are a nuisance for the people.
check by any authority.” The residents have also written to CS Sanghi, chairman and managing director of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development (DSIIDC) to either cancel the licence of the two shops or relocate them. “The liquor shops have turned into a nuisance for the residents. The number of anti-social elements has risen in the last few years. Women do not feel safe and the important point is that the CSC is of no use to the residents of Lado Sarai. There is not a single shop for which we should visit the CSC. Instead, we have to travel a few km to Adchini or Mehrauli for buying
SUNIL SAXENA / HT PHOTO
household stuff,” says Rai. The RWA has decided to go to the court again if the DDA or the DSIIDC do not take action against these shops. “The DDA is at fault. Firstly, it allowed the opening up of two wine shops in a CSC and now when the court has ordered their closure, the agency is not doing anything,” says Walia. “The presence of a wine shop in a CSC has become a common problem in most colonies. We are working on a plan to relocate these shops but for that, all the agencies will have to work together,” says RK Sharma, executive engineer, DDA.
■ Service lane of no use
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garima.vohra@hindustantimes.com
The service lane in Raj Nagar, constructed to facilitate traffic movement on the Ring Road near Laxmibai Nagar and Kidwai Nagar, is dug up at many places and malba is dumped here and there. This has not only rendered the service lane useless but some jhuggi clusters have also come up on the boundary of the service lane. SUNIL SAXENA / HT PHOTO
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