EP120 - Is Delhi Still Liveable? answers A.K. Jain, Former Commissioner DDA | The CODE | Podcast

00:43 Delhi's history by A. K. Jain04:00 Edwin Lutyens story, Kingsway camp and Raisina Hills 06:52 SPA in 1969 and Joined DDA in 197607:17 Floods are a test for planning08:21 Kingsway camp mein toh paani bharega hi..09:37 Story- How Agencies came up12:09 1951 had 5 lakhs refugees come to Delhi and...14:15 DLF made GK and Rajouri Garden15:02 Delhi needed 2 things.. 16:14 Defining roles- DDA and MCD17:15 Ford Foundation helped with first MPD18:18 Delhi master plan should be a model for other cities18:52 1962 first master plan of Delhi and 62 cities followed the same20:15 Re-settlement of slums in Delhi during emergency and some numbers22:00 Many colonies and residential plotting (with names) happened23:00 In 1962 masterplan, 20% green cover24:40 "Jo kaam karta hai toh criticism bhi hota hai..."25:00 Mentions different criticisms received for different regions...28:20 Transport is the backbone of any masterplan..29:18 2002 saw Delhi metro 29:52 Kya heavily dense population actually ek problem hai? surprise.33:00 Builders demand high rise but we have realised...35:54 Multi storey lobbyist arguments become invalid as the city becomes dysfunctional37:31 There are many unauthorised colonies in Delhi.. is that a problem?39:43 What is Regularising of colony40:42 Unauthorised colonies are not slums, political parties misuse this term43:00 What is an urban village?45:22 Story of Delhi sealing drive in 2006 and master plan 2021 and 204148:17 Bhurelal Committee48:58 then...Gun fired in Jahangirpuri50:00 Amendments done to master plan and mixed land use came in52:14 3-4 new things in MPD 202153:18 previous MPD did not consider Environment factors55:00 We proposed that public transit should be free but DTC and DMRC did not have the budget56:11 We said flyovers are a temporary solution but elections..57:48 Delhi drainage was designed in 1970 for 35 lakh population, is it possible to re-do the drainage in Delhi for current and future situation? YES. 59:08 Delhi has 14 departments to solve the problem of drainage and irrigation!!! But...1:00:44 There are 28 major drains that are 600 kms in length in Delhi1:02:05 In 1962 master plan, Yamuna, Ring road, Leaders memorials and Samadhis1:04:00 In 1982 10,000 acre land was planned to be developed near the Yamuna but was reasonably rejected and DDA agreed 1:09:18 For MPD 2041 I suggest to plan for short term and keep moving forward with definite goals..01:10:00 5 things to focus on for MPD 204101:15:41 Delhi nullahs ka waste jaata kahan hai?? Shocking!01:18:00 This can be sorted very quickly, it is an engineering problem.01:19:32 Embankments along the river and areas at risk01:22:19 Best 3 points of MPD 20211:23:06 The Language in MPD 2021 was not biding and was soft01:26:42 One street rule you would like to change 01:30:14 What should NCR towns learn from Delhi's failures01:33:55 Should Delhi NCR have a unified regional body? Centralization of power…01:36:30 Delhi should have setup UMTA for last mile services? Hear this story..01:43:00 Liveablity is an Abstract concept..01:44:21 Liveability defined by me..01:46:48 Power politics..01:47:24 How do you find Delhi’s future?01:48:21 Can ordinary citizens and RWAs push and be the catalyst for betterment in Delhi?01:49:00 Public participation in planning exists as a provision but…01:50:28 He sent his suggestions but no acknowledgement happened01:51:00 If they are not responsive.. they are useless01:55:00 If Liveability is triggered by govt and citizen actions only, what are the steps each can take for progress01:56:30 Hum China se bahut peeche reh gaye hain…01:57:37 Singapore humse bahut peeche tha…they are thought leaders of the world01:58:38 Advice for young professionals and students of AEC industry