NDMC ready to hand over Super Bazaar building to private players

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) The decks for the privatisation of Super Bazaar located in Connaught Place area of the national capital were cleared today when New Delhi Municipal Council submitted before the Supreme Court that it was prepared to hand over the Super Bazaar building on a as-it-is basis.

It was a total volte-face of the stand taken earlier by NDMC when it insisted on demolishing the building for redeveloping it into a multi-storey shopping complex.

A Division Bench comprising Justices B P Singh and Tarun Chatterjee today directed the NDMC to file a fresh affiidavit stating therein the new stand of the civic body.

Adjourning the matter till November 1, the court also directed the NDMC to give details of the area it reqired to provide parking space.

Indian Potash and Reliance Industries(Mukesh Ambani Group) are the leading bidders for Super Bazaar.

The order came on the petition filed by Super Bazaar Karamchari Dalit Sangh who are seeking direction to reopen and restart the Super Bazaar which is a cooperative store and is closed at present.

On the last date of hearing, the apex court had reprimanded the NDMC for making uncalled for averments in its affidavit, saying it was not earning any revenue for 80 per cent building located in NDMC area as the Centre was not paying any tax for the bungalows and flats occupied by central and state government, ministers, MPs and Supreme Court and High Court judges.

UNI AKS/SC PA DS1136