Millennium Depot land was to be vacated, agrees DTC (Times of India 10 November 2010)

NEW DELHI: In response to an RTI query, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has accepted that the 61.59 acre land on the Yamuna river bed which it is using as the Millennium Bus Depot was meant to be vacated and given back to Indraprastha Power Generation Corporation Limited (IPGCL) as soon as the Commonwealth Games got over. However, having made its intentions to not vacate the land clear, DTC officials now refuse to even discuss the matter. On the plans for the depot attached with the response it is clearly mentioned that "the transfer of land is purely on temporary basis and vacant possession of same shall be given back to IPGCL after CWG 2010''. According to sources, DDA did not issue any allotment letter to DTC for the land and it had been handed over to the corporation by IGPCL which had been using it to dump fly ash. "We have written to both the LG and the chief secretary and highlighted the violation that DTC is intent on carrying on. Despite all that has been said, DTC is refusing to move out and is in fact now claiming it to be one of their biggest depots so far,'' said Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan. The bus depot, that is currently being used for parking about 600 DTC buses, also came under the scanner last week when members of the Delhi Urban Arts Commission reviewed various constructions on the river bed, claiming that many of them had not taken the mandatory clearance from them. The land for the bus depot had been allotted amid much controversy with the LG by then having passed a moratorium that no construction would be allowed on the river bed. The bus depot, meant to house buses to be used for ferrying athletes and officials during the Games, got special clearance with the rider that no permanent construction would be carried out. In a letter dated May 5, 2010, Ranjan Mukherjee, OSD to the LG had said, "The bus parking facility...will be a temporary arrangement for DTC for the duration of the CWG-2010 and there is no plan for any permanent structures. The structures are to be completely removed post Games.'' The conditions outlined that there would be no permanent construction, soft parking of compressed earth or perforated paved blocks be used, it was to be given to DTC on lease and no servicing of buses was to have taken place. DTC was to dismantle all structures and move out within 10 days of the Games getting over. DTC sources, meanwhile, maintain that they have no plans of vacating the land and will use it to park 600 AC buses. They did claim that the structure is temporary, including the flooring that was flexible pavement.