Latest news with #RLDA
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Land exemption given for tree felling for railway station work
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has granted a special exemption under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994, to facilitate redevelopment of the New Delhi Railway Station. The move allows the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) to seek formal permission to fell or transplant 887 trees spread across a 115.88-hectare site. The exemption, issued via a gazette notification on June 5 but made public Tuesday, invokes Section 29 of the DPTA to bypass the area restriction in 'public interest.' '… in public interest, (the LG) exempts an area of 115.88 hectare… from the limitation of maximum one hectare area under sub-section (3) of Section 9 of the said Act for re-development of New Delhi Railway Station, Delhi under Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994,' the notification read. This provision has now been invoked thrice in recent weeks — previously for the Common Central Secretariat buildings and a flyover in northeast Delhi. To be sure, while the exemption clears a key procedural hurdle, it does not constitute approval for cutting or transplanting any trees. It merely enables the designated Tree Officer to examine the RLDA's application, which had previously been ineligible for consideration because of the site's size. 'This notification... shall not be considered as permission for transplantation/felling of trees,' the Act states. For the next step, the Tree Officer, in this case the deputy conservator of forest (central division), will independently scrutinise the application. This will involve due diligence under the DPTA, the Delhi Preservation of Trees Rules, 1996, and compliance with any court directions. The Tree Officer must apply due diligence and aim to minimise the number of trees affected by the project. Redevelopment of the New Delhi Railway Station has been in the pipeline since 2021. Initially pegged at ₹15,000 crore, the project has since been scaled down to ₹2,469 crore to enhance feasibility. Plans include construction of two linear station buildings on the Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate sides, an air-concourse, waiting areas, lifts, escalators, retail and office spaces. The station will function as an integrated Multi Modal Transit Hub. Connectivity is a key component: a network of elevated and at-grade roads is proposed to ease congestion. While the original plan had seven flyovers, revisions are underway, though a web of elevated roads will still link the site with other parts of the city, said an RLDA official. The June 5 exemption is part of a series of recent moves by the LG to fast-track large infrastructure projects that fall afoul of the DPTA's area limit. On June 6, Saxena issued a similar exemption for a 5.037-hectare site at the Common Central Secretariat project, involving 476 trees. A day earlier, he cleared a 2.16-hectare stretch for a flyover at the Nand Nagri–Gagan Cinema junction, where 27 trees are affected. A retired Indian Forest Service officer familiar with such cases said the exemption is a procedural mechanism, often used to allow legal processing of large-scale development applications. 'Without the exemption, the Tree Officer would not be able to even consider such cases. It doesn't mean permission is granted, just that the file can now be taken up,' the official said, adding that such provisions have been used in past projects as well.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Stamp duty waiver of 45cr for Dharavi project to lease rly land
Mumbai: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved stamp duty waiver of Rs 45 crore on sub-lease agreements between Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA), as well as of Rs 186 crore on the conveyance agreement signed with the judiciary to set up a permanent campus of Maharashtra National Law University at Goregaon. RLDA has agreed to lease 47.5 acres of its land at Mahim to DRP for more than 30 years. So far, DRP has obtained possession of 28 acres. The land is to be used for railway staff quarters and offices, as well as for housing slumdwellers and residents of authorised buildings in Dharavi. Over 10,000 housing rehab units are proposed to be built on the plot. In a press release, govt said there was a proposal to include such sub-leases in the stamp duty concession policy so that the project's implementation could get a boost. Maharashtra National Law University currently operates out of a rented building at Powai. Govt has provided 35 acres to it in Goregaon for a permanent campus. The stamp duty is 5% of the ready reckoner rate of the plot, which is valued at Rs 3,100 crore, said officials. "The construction of the university's infrastructure in this new space will save on rental costs. Also, the students here will have access to educational facilities in one place," stated the release. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Coventry: If You Were Born Between 1945-1974 You Could Be Eligible For This British Seniors Read More Undo The cabinet also approved a 50% reduction in stamp duty, amounting to Rs 33 crore, on a special purpose vehicle agreement on 493 hectares required for a joint venture project of MMRDA and Raigad Pen Growth Centre Ltd. This would benefit housing projects on the land, said officials. Through the growth centre, govt aims at development of fintech companies, educational and healthcare facilities, amusement parks, affordable housing, commercial hubs, retail and construction sectors, thereby providing a large number of employment opportunities at the local level. "Apart from promoting foreign investment, there is a possibility of a large amount of stamp duty and tax revenue being collected in the state treasury from future commercial transactions. Against this backdrop, a proposal to waive 50% stamp duty was approved," said an official. In the last financial year, govt earned Rs 58,000 crore as revenue from stamp duty, and in the current fiscal, it is estimated to cross Rs 60,000 crore.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Maharashtra Cabinet approves stamp duty concessions for Dharavi Redevelopment project
The Maharashtra Cabinet on Monday approved stamp duty concessions for lease and sublease agreements signed by the Dharavi Redevelopment project's Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and related agencies. The DRP is being executed by Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDPL) — a joint venture between Adani Properties Pvt Ltd (80%) and the state-run Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) (20%). NMDPL is the lead implementation agency for the integrated redevelopment of Dharavi, one of Asia's largest informal settlements. The government had previously declared the Dharavi redevelopment as both an Essential Urban Infrastructure Project and a Special Project. As per existing state policy, such projects are eligible for waiver or reduction in stamp duty to ensure smoother and more cost-effective execution, the state government said in a statement. In line with this policy, a proposal was placed before the Cabinet to grant stamp duty concessions on sub-lease agreements between the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) — which owns a key portion of land in Dharavi — and either the Dharavi SPV (NMDPL) or the SRA. It was also proposed that these categories of lease documents be formally included under the state's stamp duty concession policy. The Cabinet has now approved this inclusion. The RLDA is contributing approximately 45 acres of land to the redevelopment. As per the tender conditions, the SPV is required to pay at least ₹2,800 crore to the RLDA for this land. A senior government official said the stamp duty relief will lower transaction costs, streamline legal processes, and accelerate the start of construction work. 'This is a crucial step that removes a major hurdle and brings the project closer to execution,' the official said. In another decision pertaining to stamp duty waiver, the Cabinet also approved a 50% concession in stamp duty for the proposed joint venture between MMRDA and Raigad Pen Growth Centre Ltd. The concession applies to the land required for the integrated township project in Pen taluka, Raigad district. The project, spread across 1,217.71 acres, will be developed under the Integrated Township Policy and managed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Designed as a global-standard, public-private partnership model, the township is expected to include fintech hubs, educational and healthcare institutions, affordable housing, commercial spaces, and entertainment zones. Officials expect the initiative to create significant employment opportunities and attract substantial foreign investment. In a separate decision, the Cabinet also approved a complete waiver of stamp duty on land being transferred to Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai. The university has been allotted 141,640.40 square meters in Pahadi, Goregaon (West), for the development of its permanent campus
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BBMP demands clarifications on controversial tree proposal
BBMP RLDA Cantonment trees public consultation The railway should respect people's opinions and look for an alternative location. Even the Forest Minister of Karnataka spoke about the protection of the 368 trees Vijay Nishant, Member, Bengaluru Biodiversity Management Committee Karnataka Forest Minister With mounting objections from citizens and environmentalists,has formally requestedto review its controversial plan to cut 368The Forest Department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has asked the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) to reconsider its proposed commercial project at Cantonment railway station, which has faced severe public backlash since its announcement. According to BBMP's Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), RLDA has also been asked to furnish a detailed response for every question and query raised by citizens during themeeting held on May 20.'We have asked higher officials of RLDA to reconsider the project, looking at objections raised by the public. Public sentiment is clearly against the proposed project. BBMP has also recorded the proceedings on May 20 and handed it over to RLDA for a detailed response. A general reply to public concerns will not be admissible,' said BLG Swamy, DCF, got to know about the project when BBMP put out a public notice on April 25, stating RLDA's intention to remove 368 trees for commercial development at the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony campus. Following the notice, BBMP was flooded with objections against the RLDA officials informed that the project is to ensure a source of revenue for Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company Limited (K-RIDE). The agency stated that the Bengaluru suburban rail project was approved by the Railway Board with a total cost of Rs 15,767 crore, with a completion period of 6 years. While 20% of this cost is borne by the State government and 20% by the Centre, the remaining 60% is through per RLDA, out of the Railway share of Rs 2,479 crore (20%), Rs 500 crore is through budgetary support and the remaining through the returns of monetisation of land parcels identified in the project tree activists say, after the stormy public consultation held on May 20, RLDA should withdraw the proposal and consider establishing the project at an alternate site.'The railway should respect people's opinions and look for an alternative location. Even the Forest Minister of Karnataka spoke about the protection of the 368 trees proposed to be removed for the project,' said Vijay Nishant, a member of Bengaluru's Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC).Notably, after the public outcry,Eshwar Khandre instructed that action be taken for the protection of the 368 trees on the Cantonment Railway Colony campus proposed to be felled for a commercial project.A letter issued from his office also stated that rules will be framed to bring the request of cutting down more than 50 trees to the notice of the Forest Minister, after obtaining the government's permission.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
360 trees facing axe for railway commercial project near Bengaluru Cantonment station
However, the move has sparked concerns among local residents and environmentalists who fear that large-scale tree loss will further deplete Bengaluru 's already dwindling green cover. The RLDA, a statutory authority under the Ministry of Railways, plans to develop a commercial project on an 8.61-acre land parcel at the Cantonment Railway Colony, strategically located between Cantonment Road and Thimmaiah Road. The project, with a reserve price of Rs 236 crore for a 60-year lease, aims to boost Bengaluru's economy by providing residential apartments and commercial complexes. A separate one-acre parcel is designated for railway colony redevelopment. To facilitate this development, the RLDA has sought permission to remove 368 trees, many of which are heritage species like Peepal, Rubber, and Christmas trees, some over 100 years old. These trees are spread across a large area within the colony premises. In fact, environmentalists are also planning to launch a campaign, 'Save Cantonment Heritage Trees', opposing the felling of these trees. 'Citizens will be encouraged and appealed to lodge their protests by writing to dcfbbmp12@ the email account of the BBMP Forest Wing Chief, and to rldabangalore2022@ the official email account of the Railway Department,' said environment activist Vijay Nishant. Meanwhile, Rajkumar Dugar, convener for Citizens4Citizens forum, suggested that RLDA integrate the greenery into the design plan of the structure. 'I recommended that RLDA incorporate the existing greenery into the design plan of the commercial structure, instead of axing the decades-old trees. Working around the tree will add more value environmentally, similar to the design of Kempegowda International Airport's Terminal 2,' he said. He added, 'RLDA had already damaged saplings planted in 2021, as part of the preparatory work for the commercial structure. We had planted 2,365 saplings of 100 different species in a dense forest format inside the present railway colony. However, most of these saplings now stand damaged overnight for the preparatory work of the commercial building.'
