PWD, sports club spar over land

NEW DELHI: A dispute has broken out between PWD and National Sports Club of India (NSCI) over the Mathura Road decongestion project. Close to two acres of the NSCI land would be taken up for it.
The club claimed that it would lose all its 10 tennis courts and parking lots under the current plan. It wants PWD to rework its street design plan to save space for parking cars and tennis courts.A representation in this regard was made before PWD, but was rejected.

The club now plans to take “appropriate” action to save its sports facility. “We are considering the options of either sending our proposal to PWD again or approaching the Delhi high court,” said Hasan Murtaza, NSCI lawyer.
PWD would require close to two acres (8,216 sqm) land, which is currently part of NSCI premises, for the construction of 1.2km-long tunnel and an underpass at the Purana Qila Road- Mathura Road intersection. On Purana Qila road, PWD officials said, additional space was needed where the tunnel would begin.
“We need 13-14m-wide space near NSCI complex for constructing a 7m-wide carriageway, pavement, drains and utility duct. As there is no space on the road, NSCI will have to give the land,” said an official. Similarly, on Mathura Road, where an underground U-turn would be constructed, PWD needs space to create facility for surface traffic.
Murtaza said, “We will lose our parking lots on both sides. Of the 10 tennis courts, six are falling under the project. The remaining four will also be lost as the boundary wall (on Purana Qila road side) will be shifted and the main gate has to be relocated.”
He added, “We are not against this project. We just want PWD to rework the street design and construct the drains and utility ducts under the footpath. This will save six metres of road space and at least 2-3 tennis courts.”
PWD officials have ruled out the possibility. “Best possible solution has been worked and no further adjustment can be made in the design,” said an official.
Officials said, it was a sensitive area and drainage facility has to be planned properly. “All government projects are carried out keeping the future expansion in mind. The plan has been prepared after careful study,” said a senior official.
The club, which is privately run and has several high profile members, has been given the land on lease by the central government’s Land &Development Office (L&DO). “The land can be taken by the government for any public interest project,” said a source.
The club had recently approached the Delhi high court claiming that the due process to acquire the land was not followed. While the HC had dismissed their interim plea to stay the ongoing construction work, Murtaza said, their writ for compensation has been accepted by the court.
To protect its facility, the club has also filed a case in NGT and the matter would come up for hearing on December 22.
Meanwhile, PWD has started the construction work. It has barricaded the area and the excavation work has started inside the Pragati Maidan complex. “We aim to complete the tunnel by December 2018,” said an official.