Relocation worries shake govt colony residents

New Delhi: Days after central govt decided to shift several govt residential colonies in central Delhi as part of a redevelopment plan, confusion and uncertainty prevailed among residents, with many saying they had heard about the proposed relocation but not received any official communication.

Concerns were particularly high among families with school-going children, who said moving to alternate accommodation would disrupt not just their living arrangements but their entire daily routine.

The Union housing and urban affairs ministry on Wednesday announced that occupants of Kali Bari Marg, Kali Bari Apartments, BKS Marg, Park Lane, Park Street and DIZ Area Sector-2 would be shifted and provided alternate accommodation as part of a proposed redevelopment exercise.

During a visit to Kali Bari Apartments and in the adjoining market area on Saturday, several residents told TOI that they were concerned about relocating on short notice. No timeline is known yet, but they hope to get sufficient time to prepare.

Many residents said they had heard that these colonies would be demolished, but people were still moving into the area, making the situation more confusing. A govt employee working at Rashtrapati Bhavan had shifted only a few months ago, one of them pointed out.

Many residents urged central govt to provide a few years before implementing the relocation. A woman, whose husband works in Parliament and who lives in a type-I quarter, said shifting would be a major challenge for the family. “We understand that redevelopment has to happen one day. But moving with two children is not easy,” she said. “My daughter is in Class IX and will soon enter her board years. My younger child is in Class VII. Their school, tuition classes and daily routine are all centered around this area. We have spent eight years and built our lives here.”

Another resident, who shifted to the colony two years ago and admitted her child to a nearby Kendriya Vidyalaya this year, expressed similar concerns. “If we have to move now, managing school timings, transport and studies will become difficult. Children need stability, especially when young,” she said.

Several residents argued in favour of a longer transition period before large-scale shifting. “Families should be given four to five years to prepare. Children are studying, some residents are nearing retirement, and many have elderly parents dependent on nearby hospitals and facilities,” said an occupant.

A middle-aged resident said relocation involved far more than simply changing houses. “People think shifting means packing boxes and moving. In reality, it means changing schools, commuting routes, domestic help arrangements, tuition schedules, medical facilities and community networks built over years. It disrupts an entire ecosystem of daily life,” he said.

Some residents appeared unaware of the details of the govt order altogether. “I only came to know about it today from neighbours,” said a resident. “No official has contacted us. We don’t know where we will be allotted accommodation or when the shifting will happen.”

However, some residents said occupants of type-I quarters had received notices multiple times in the past. A 37-year-old resident, whose husband works in a ministry and who shifted here five years ago, said the move would affect not only children’s education but also office commutes as the alternative accommodation offered could be far away. “We have heard that many people are being advised to apply for accommodation in Sarojini Nagar or Sewa Nagar,” she said.

For now, uncertainty appears to be the dominant sentiment across the colonies, with most families waiting for an official communication and clear timelines before making decisions that could significantly alter their daily lives.

The ministry has asked residents to update their profiles and participate in the bidding process for alternative housing through the automated system of allotment.