Mumbai, Aug. 27 -- The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister unveiled the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2047, placing affordable housing at the core and proposing a major thrust on four million (mn) new residential units to meet a projected population of 32 mn by 2047. The plan emphasises planned development of the national capital and a shift in growth patterns to accommodate vertical expansion.

The revised blueprint allows greater vertical expansion through changes to floor area ratio (FAR) and building controls and removes height restrictions across most of the city. Restrictions will remain in certain sensitive areas including the Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, Civil Lines Bungalow Area, Connaught Place and its extension, Zone 'O' comprising the Yamuna floodplain and the Ridge, land pooling areas, low density areas and sites restricted under the Archaeological Survey of India or the National Monuments Authority.

The plan sets out a renewal framework for existing built-up areas by reducing the minimum redevelopment area from 40,000 square metres (sqm) to 3,000 sqm, a change that is likely to provide around 0.7 mn additional dwelling units. Resident Welfare Associations will be encouraged to register and adopt an in-situ redevelopment style framework to facilitate planned renewal of group and DDA housing. A regeneration framework for eligible unauthorised colonies is also incorporated alongside the regularisation process.

Affordable housing measures include development along High Density Corridors and a 50 per cent FAR incentive to encourage rental housing for students, working professionals, migrant workers and low-income groups. There is a separate provision for workers, offering an additional 15 per cent FAR for workers' housing on industrial plots of 5,000 sqm and above.

The plan envisages a major expansion of the Delhi Metro network to around 695 km by 2047 and incorporates a Transit-Oriented Development policy to strengthen public transport corridors. It recognises new economies such as data centres, co-working areas and cloud kitchens and signals an implementation push supported by the central and local governments.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.