The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has suggested constructing extra floors or additional towers in existing educational institutions to take in more students. Additionally, the department has also conveyed its wish to create a roadmap for slum rehabilitation and re-development of unauthorised colonies in collaboration with the Delhi government.

These were among the issues, which came up for discussion during a meeting between DDA vice-chairman Balwinder Kumar and Urban Development (UD) Minister Manish Sisodia at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday.

While both Sisodia’s office and the DDA confirmed the meeting, both maintained that the meeting was only a “courtesy call” where the issues of slum rehabilitation, unauthorised colonies and requirement of land for schools, colleges and hospitals were discussed.

Sources told Newsline that in the meeting that lasted half an hour, Sisodia is learnt to have raised the issue of not having enough land for schools, colleges and hospitals.

To this, Kumar reportedly suggested that ‘PSP’ (Public and Semi-Public land) was available and the Delhi government could first consider constructing extra floors on increased Floor-Area-Ratio (FAR) or build additional towers in the premises of schools and colleges.

“The vice-chairman stated that schools and colleges were allotted land generously, sometimes to the tune of four-five acres, even though the requirement was only 4,000 sqm. So, he suggested that to begin with, extra floors may be constructed with increased FAR so as to accommodate more students,” a source said.

Currently, the DDA has in its possession 7,000 acres of developed land and 1,742 plots of developed land, including PSP land.

On the issue of slum re-development, the DDA informed Sisodia that 281 slums are on DDA land and a roadmap for slum rehabilitation would be drawn up.

The DDA has suggested that in unauthorised colonies, a scheme may be brought about wherein people can suggest what infrastructure they require.

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