There is news today that the government is going to allow private real estate companies to redevelop slums in Delhi.
The news report says:
"According to the plan, the developers would be allowed to build houses for slum dwellers and in return get a portion of the total space for development which they can sell at market rates. They will avail higher FAR and thus book higher margins in these projects. Delhi has around 900 slum clusters housing almost a fifth of its population."
My question is: Why stop there?
According to me, all the DDA localities built by the government for the middle class are also fit for redevelopment along these lines.
The architectural style employed by the DDA is called "brutalism" – and it is the favourite architectural style of socialists the world over. There is nothing uglier than brutalism: see Chandigarh.
DDA localities are actually slums for the middle class: ugly housing with few amenities. Parking is inadequate; and local markets are insufficient.
If these were handed over to private developers for rebuilding and present owners were given a share in the new developments, it would be win-win all around.
In short: The capital city of New Delhi must be rebuilt. It has been destroyed by socialism, socialist architecture, and socialist organizations like the DDA.
Like all their other "plans," their urban planning is a failure too.
For inspiration, read my old article: "Brand New Delhi".
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