With the rising cases of Covid-19 pandemic in the Capital, the healthcare infrastructure is under severe stress, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has decided to allot vacant plots to private hospitals and medical facilities for Covid-19 care.

The DDA officials said that while the allotment will be done on a first-come first-served basis, priority will be given to the Government and local bodies in the event of multiple requests for a site.

DDA will allot vacant land to hospitals and medical institutions to set up Covid care infrastructure on a temporary basis. This decision was taken after several repeated requests were received from many healthcare facilities, said land-owning agency officials.

The proposal to this effect was approved by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, and was sent to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs last week to relax the allotment rules. The decision was accepted with some conditions, the officials disclosed.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, a senior DDA official said: “Requests have been received from Government institutions and private hospitals. They want land near their facility to be handed over for Covid-related infrastructure. The land can be given to government institutions as per the current policy. However, to allot land to private hospitals or institutions, we need a change or relaxation in the rules.”

Further the officials said that the plots will be licensed for six months on subsidised charges.

In a recent decision, DDA had decided to hand over community halls and vacant land parcels to set up Covid care infrastructure. Those who can utilise these halls and vacant plots include Government organisations, non-government organisations, institutions, resident welfare associations, among others.