DDA Invites Bids to Build 35-Meter Delhi Eye Observation Wheel in Mayur Vihar
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Tuesday invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from companies to develop and operate a 35-meter-high "Delhi Eye" observation wheel at the Mayur Vihar District Centre. The planned project aims to build a landmark tourist attraction in the locality that will offer visitors a 360-degree view of the national capital.
According to the DDA, the proposed modern Ferris wheel will feature enclosed, air-conditioned cabins designed to move at a slow pace, similar to the London Eye and Singapore Flyer. The project will be developed on a 3.84-acre land parcel and will be awarded to a selected concessionaire under a 55-year license agreement.
This is not the city's first encounter with such an attraction. A previous 45-meter-high version of the "Delhi Eye" was formerly operated inside a private amusement park in Okhla near Kalindi Kunj. That wheel, which also featured air-conditioned cabins, was dismantled in 2017, though the reasons for its removal remain unclear.
The DDA's current EoI process is intended to gauge market interest and gather feedback from industry stakeholders before the authority issues a detailed Request for Proposal (RFP). The selected private firm will be fully responsible for both the development and the subsequent operation of the observation wheel.
"The issue of this EoI and submission of an EoI by an interested party shall not have any bearing on the future process to be undertaken by DDA for development of the project," the official document states. The DDA will finalize the project's scope, development obligations, and bidding conditions after reviewing the submissions.
The designated site at the Mayur Vihar District Centre is situated close to the New Ashok Nagar and Mayur Vihar Extension Metro stations on the Blue Line. The location is also accessible via the DND Flyway, the Mayur Vihar flyover, and Ghazipur Road, in an area that already hosts commercial establishments, including star hotels and global outlets.
Under the current proposal, the land is earmarked for commercial use with a permissible floor-area ratio (FAR) of 150 and 50 percent ground coverage. While the planned height of the observation wheel is 35 meters, the final dimensions will require statutory clearances from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Delhi Fire Services (DFS).
Interested applicants have been advised by the DDA to conduct site visits and perform preliminary due diligence before submitting their responses. However, the authority has barred any sampling or removal of materials from the location during these visits. All expenses related to the EoI preparation, site visits, and due diligence must be borne entirely by the bidding firms.
