NDMC notices to some Khan Mkt shops over conversion charges

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Some restaurants and othercommercial units in the high-end Khan Market in south Delhihave been asked by the NDMC to pay conversion charges by themonth-end or face sealing action.

Notices have been sent to over 30 units in the marketwhich were running in residential premises but were carryingout commercial activities, officials said.

They have been asked to pay the necessary charges forconversion of the properties to commercial ones by January 30or face sealing.

When Khan Market was set up in the 1950s, commercialestablishments came up on ground floors and the upper oneswere kept for residential use. However, after a monitoringcommittee gave permission for conversion, a number of eateriesand other shops have come up on upper floors, some of whichwere yet to pay the necessary charges.

The civic agency had earlier sealed several shops innearby Sujan Singh Park for misuse of property.

Khan Market Traders Association representative SanjeevMehra said notices have come to some traders. "Commercialactivity was earlier not permissible. Now that it has beenallowed, the traders also definitely have the responsibilityto pay the conversion charges. If people are using theresidential premises for commercial purposes, they should paythe charges, that is our view."

Traders claimed that the one-time conversion charge willcome to around Rs 25 lakh per establishment.

The posh market is the costliest retail high street inthe country and its ranking in the global retail high streetis 21, according to a survey by global real estate consultancyfirm Cushman and Wakefield last year. Khan Market saw a riseof over 15 per cent in rentals in 2010.