New bungalows to make a stop at Delhi's Civil Lines

NEW DELHI : Delhi’s tony Civil Lines, home to posh bungalows and residences of the city’s political elite including the chief minister and lieutenant governor, will see new luxury accommodation priced at Rs 10-20 crore, thanks to a land asset utilisation plan by the railways.
The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) will pick a private developer to build bungalows and pricey three-storey apartment blocks on a 5.38 hectare plot. Currently the area, on Boulevard Road, adjacent to Tis Hazari Metro station near Rajpur Road, is home to ten railway bungalows that will be demolished.

“The railway colony holds great potential…the upscale residential development is envisioned as a self-sufficient neighborhood with state-of-the-art amenities. Its strategic location and excellent connectivity will make it a preferred destination for homeowners,” said Ved Parkash Dudeja, vice chairman, Rail Land Development Authority. Railways estimates it will earn around Rs 400 crore from the project. It plans to pick the private developer via a tender.

“This kind of land is a gold mine for railways…these bungalows can easily sell between RS 1,50,000 to Rs 2,00,000 per sq yard. The developer can plan for bungalows of 1,000 sq yard each. These can be of different categories, from premium to super luxury. Selling in that region won’t be difficult at all as there is hardly any inventory available,” said Rohit Chopra, founder of Delhi-based boutique consultancy firm SanD advisory. He said the bungalows can sell for Rs 10-20 crore.

“A lot of traditional families of North Delhi, who are looking to upgrade themselves, will get an opportunity. Post-covid, we are going to witness demand for bungalows by the rich as they would want to have open spaces,” said Deepak Kapoor, director, Gulshan, an NCR-based developer.
Turn: Close to Bungalow Zone

The railway plot is close to what is called the Bungalow Zone, Civil Lines. Established as civilian quarters during colonial rule, the locality hosts Delhi University, Delhi Legislative Assembly, Tis Hazari court, as well as sprawling official and private residences.

RLDA has over 70 sites across India for leasing and eligible developers for each will be selected through an open and transparent bid process, officials said. And railways has approximately 43,000 hectares of vacant land across India.