Delhi's Future Blueprint: Master Plan 2047 Notified with 40 Lakh Homes and Transit-Housing Focus

Delhi's Master Plan 2047 has been formally notified, outlining the national capital's urban development for the next two decades. The plan envisages construction of over 40 lakh new homes, with a strong emphasis on affordable housing, redevelopment of older colonies, and a unified framework for parking and transport.

Speaking to NDTV, N Saravana Kumar, Vice Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), said the plan aims to make Delhi more liveable while addressing its housing needs. "Delhi will become more liveable. We have planned around 40 lakh homes, with a major focus on affordable housing," he said. "The lives of Delhi residents will become easier, and they will have better and more facilities for living."

Delhi's population is projected to cross 3 crore by 2047. To accommodate this growth, MPD-2047 proposes a combination of redevelopment, higher-density construction around public transport, and planned expansion in new areas.

Housing is at the centre of the plan. With a projected requirement of more than 40 lakh additional homes, the supply will be generated through redevelopment of existing areas, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), land pooling, and affordable housing projects.

Nearly 18 lakh affordable homes are planned in TOD zones, which allow higher-density, mixed-use development near Metro and other mass-transit corridors. This brings homes, offices, shops, and public facilities closer to public transport, reducing dependence on private vehicles.

Affordable housing will also be developed along high-density corridors. Rental housing receives a boost through a 50 per cent Floor Area Ratio (FAR) incentive to encourage accommodation for students, working professionals, migrant workers, and low-income groups. Industrial plots measuring 5,000 square metres and above can get an additional 15 per cent FAR for workers' housing.

A major change under MPD-2047 concerns redevelopment of group housing, DDA housing, and government housing. The minimum area required for redevelopment has been reduced from 40,000 square metres to 3,000 square metres, allowing smaller and ageing housing complexes to be taken up for redevelopment. According to the plan, this could create around 7 lakh additional dwelling units.

Kumar said vertical development will become increasingly important as Delhi looks to accommodate a growing population within its limited geographical area. "Delhi will now grow vertically. The 18-metre height restriction has been removed," he said. Height restrictions will, however, continue in areas where they are required due to aviation, heritage, security, or other planning considerations.

The Master Plan also focuses on housing for residents of Delhi's jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) clusters. Under the "Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan" approach, eligible residents can get permanent housing at or close to their existing location. The programme is expected to benefit more than 17 lakh JJ dwellers, with public-private partnership and private-participation models also envisaged.

Delhi's 1,511 unauthorised colonies are another major focus. Residential buildings in these colonies can be regularised on an "as is where is" basis, without the requirement for conventional layout plans. This is aimed at simplifying regularisation and providing greater property security to around 45 lakh residents.

For future expansion, nearly 200 square kilometres are envisaged for planned urban development through the Land Pooling Policy. This could create around 12 lakh homes, along with about 600 km of road network. The plan emphasises development of infrastructure before large-scale construction.

The plan also envisages a 24x7 city with improved mobility, unified parking norms, and new education and investment hubs in Narela and Dwarka. Ecological restoration of the Yamuna floodplain is another key component, reflecting a broader push for environmental sustainability.

With the notification of MPD-2047, the DDA has provided a long-term vision for Delhi's growth. The implementation will depend on coordination among multiple agencies and the ability to attract investment while ensuring that the benefits reach all sections of society.