JOIN USHigh on realty rates but low on facilities
Situated across the Yamuna, Mayur Vihar - Phase II came up as a residential area much after Trans-Yamuna had become synonymous with Shahdara, Jhilmil Colony and Laxmi Nagar.
Probably one of the first colonies planned by the DDA in the multi-storey format, Mayur Vihar today is a rather happening place to be. As the name of the locality suggests it was the dwelling place (vihar) of the peacock (Mayur)but today those are hardly to be found, and only the name has stuck.
Adjacent to East Vinod Nagar on one side, Sanjay Jheel Park on the other and Kalyan Vas Janta Flats, Mayur Vihar is well connected to the main city by the Metro. It also is a colony which now faces the Commonwealth complex that came up for the XIX CWG.
Divided into pockets A, B, C, D, E and F, Mayur Vihar Phase –II has DDA markets in Pockets C, A and E, with a main shopping complex in Pocket B. Residents also have easy access to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, Bimla Devi Hospital, diagnostic labs and chemist shops. The colony also has its share of temples, gurudwaras and mosques , and schools. Phase II’s main market has eight banks and ATMs, a Café Coffee Day and other eateries. The Karunya Maha Ganapathi Temple visited by South Indians from all over Delhi, is highly revered.
Despite these advantages, Mayur Vihar - Phase II suffers from several issues, one of the primary ones being the monkey menace.“We are fed up with the monkeys. They travel in groups, bite without provocation and have made lives miserable, even entering homes,” says Promila Rani, a resident since 25 years.
The problem of monkeys aside, residents complain of a large population of mosquitoes inhabiting the area because of lack of cleaning facilities. Other issues include the overall lack of a clean and hygienic environment. ArjunDev, a retired serviceman who has been living here since 1990, says “We see the safai karamcharis only once a month around the time when they have to collect salaries.”
Lack of water and its availability is also a pressing concern: “The water problem has also increased because of the increase in the number of houses and population,” comments Dev.
The tug of war between MCD and DDA over maintenance of parks is making matters worse. “I have a park just outside my home,” shares Durga Nath Kotha, a resident since 1991 and “there is a constant fight between MCD and DDA over its maintenance. As a result, neither takes care of it and I have been at the receiving end. I haven’t got a single ray of sun in the past seven years as they don’t send gardeners to even trim trees.”
But despite all these issues, the good news is that the real estate value of properties in MayurVihar - Phase II has more than tripled since its inception and it is considered one of the best localities in Delhi - given its proximity to the city’s centre,attitude of the residents and abundant parks and open spaces.