Shopping center, walking trails: Yamuna banks at Sarai Kale Khan, Wazirabad to get a makeover soon | DETAILS

The Yamuna River stretch in Delhi is present process a main makeover. Round a dozen spots alongside the 22-kilometer-long stretch from the Wazirabad to the Okhla barrages might be changed into parks, ghats, cafes, and hike trails, turning into main vacationer sights. 

5 such public locations have already been developed within the final two years and 6 extra might be added to the checklist as a part of the Delhi Improvement Authority (DDA)’s plan within the subsequent couple of years, the Indian Categorical has reported.

Yamuna banks revamp: Location of recent vacationer spots 

The overall space underneath redevelopment on this stretch spans 1,660 hectares. Out of this, 740 hectares have already been developed, together with Asita East and West, Kalindi Aviral (which encompasses Baansera Park), Vasudev Ghat, Amrut Biodiversity Park, and Yamuna Vatika close to Rajghat.

Among the many new initiatives, the riverfront close to Sarai Kale Khan—developed on the positioning of the previous Millennium Park Bus Depot—is predicted to have probably the most public interplay. 

Moreover, the nationwide capital will soon see the Kalindi Biodiversity Park adjoining to the DND Flyway, the Mayur Nature Park close to the Nizamuddin Bridge, and a new eco-tourism space close to Rajghat.

The DDA’s largest problem might be connecting all 11 initiatives by means of a community of walkways and cycle tracks.

Piazza, park, buying: Delhi’s first riverfront at Sarai Kale Khan

Delhi is about to obtain its long-awaited Yamuna riverfront at the positioning of the previous Millennium Park Bus Depot close to Sarai Kale Khan. Spanning 25 hectares alongside a 200-meter-wide stretch of the Ring Street, the brand new growth will characteristic a central piazza, a topiary park, a native buying middle impressed by the one in Sunder Nursery, two parking areas, and a river promenade.

Initially constructed to accommodate up to 1,000 buses for the 2010 Commonwealth Video games, the Millennium Park Bus Depot confronted opposition from environmentalists at the time of its building. Initially meant as a non permanent facility all through the Video games, it continued to function a bus parking space till at least 2020. The land was lastly handed over to the DDA in 2023.

Challenges: Encroachment on floodplains

The report cited a senior authorities official as saying the challenge is dealing with hurdles as many components of Yamuna floodplains are encroached upon and likewise due to different current initiatives coming in the best way of linking all of the riverfront which is the tip purpose. 

“For now, we goal to full all 11 initiatives. The linkage might be deliberate after,” the official added.

Setting conservation measures by DDA 

The modifications transcend aesthetics. The DDA has drawn inspiration from the present biodiversity park at Wazirabad, incorporating depressions designed for water storage.

The company has additionally prioritised the planting of native timber and grasses, with some species-specific to sure sections of the stretch. A DDA official concerned within the challenge famous, “The true success of this challenge might be measured by how properly the pure options we’ve built-in can face up to floods, as they do in components of the river that stay untouched. The grasses and crops typical of riverine ecosystems differ considerably from these discovered within the Ridge space, they usually gained’t survive within the floodplain.”

According to orders from the Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal, the Delhi Excessive Courtroom, and the Supreme Courtroom, the DDA can also be issuing eviction notices to residents dwelling on the floodplains, together with these in Mayur Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, and shanties close to the DND Flyway. These directives emphasise that no encroachments might be permitted on the floodplains.