Plea in Delhi HC against SDMC parking project at Defence Colony

A writ petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the decision of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to construct an automated multi-level parking structure behind New Delhi’s posh Defence Colony Market..The said multi-level parking is proposed to be constructed by taking over land from a children’s park and an arterial road named Varun Marg..The petition filed by Rajeev Suri, a resident of Defence Colony, states that the immediate cause of action for filing the said petition is the decision of (SDMC) to float a tender for construction, operation & maintenance of the automated multilevel car parking facility. .Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Shikhil Suri, instructed by Suri & Suri Law Offices, argued that the decision is in violation of the stated land use of the area, where the said multi-level parking is proposed to be constructed. .The petition assumes significance as the SDMC is not only proposing to take over land from a children’s park, but is also doing so without any consultation with the residents or environmental/traffic circulation studies..SDMC had initiated a similar project in 2012, which was located in a green area on land belonging to the Land and Development Office. However, the proposal was withdrawn pursuant to plea filed in the Delhi High Court. The current project site is stated to be only a few meters away from the earlier proposed site..The Single Judge Bench of Justice AK Chawla directed the SDMC to file a status report on the matter and posted the matter for January 11 next year..Read Order:.Image taken from here.