Taking away a major complaint of the Kejriwal government on non-availability of land for hospitals, night shelters or government offices, the Centre on Monday announced that DDA will provide plots for such facilities at Re 1 per annum. Announcing the lease rates for land for institutional purposes on Monday, urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Centre had decided to allot plots at cheap rates for public utilities and services, a move taken after consulting the city government and DDA.

Taking a dig at the CM for accusing the Centre for not letting his government work, Naidu said, "They are giving ads but I am adding (to the city's development)." Sources said while land for health services and non-remunerative uses such as maternity centres and orphanages will be provided by DDA at Re 1 per annum, the rates for DTC depots and offices too have been reduced substantially. These have been reduced from commercial market rates ranging between Rs 1,82,400 and Rs 6.72 lakh per sq metre to the `no-profit, noloss level' of Rs 11,745 per sq metre.

Land for health services such as medical institutions, hospitals, dispensaries run by the central or city governments will be given at a nominal charge of Re 1 per annum.

As per the decision, Delhi government will also get land for offices from DDA at zonal variant rate (ZVR), which ranges between Rs 23,490 and Rs 52,853 per sq metre. The earlier market rate was between Rs 1,82,400 and Rs 6,72,000 per sq metre. These rates are applicable for 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Similarly, the land rates for staff quarters, schools and hospitals of local bodies and Delhi government has been reduced from 10% of residential rates, which were between Rs 31,000 and Rs 75,700 per sq metre, to a nominal charge of Re 1 per annum, Naidu said.

Land for roads, graveyards and crematoria, playgrounds and parks, water supply and drainage for DDA colonies will continue to be allotted free of cost or at a nominal charge of Rs 1 per annum.