New Delhi, 07 April (H.S.):
The Central Government has taken a significant step towards resolving the long-standing issue of unauthorised colonies in Delhi.To accelerate urban development and provide citizens with improved basic infrastructure, the government has announced the regularisation of these colonies on an as is where is basis, alongside the implementation of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) scheme.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal announced these initiatives at a special event here on Tuesday, attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, Additional Secretary D Thara from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, DDA Vice Chairman N Saravana Kumar, and MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar.
Manohar Lal stated that unauthorised colonies will now receive legal validity without requiring layout plan approval, while the process for granting ownership rights will be simplified. Delhi has identified 22 major issues, with poor coordination among agencies posing the biggest challenge; overlapping jurisdictions between the Delhi Government, DDA, MCD, NDMC, LNDO, and Delhi Jal Board had long troubled residents.
All agencies are now being aligned for a unified solution.
He noted that previously disparate circle rates existed across entities; a January 1 notification this year has unified the Delhi Government's rates for DDA and LNDO application, resolving conversion rates, registration fees, and leasehold property issues. The conversion process will soon be finalised in the Cabinet for swift rollout.
The minister added that the TOD policy, first outlined in the 2021 Master Plan but stalled by hurdles, has been revised. Regularisation now integrates with the 2019 PM-UDAY scheme's ownership provisions, enabling immediate registry for ownership rights; new constructions will receive plans via MCD.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta highlighted that PM-UDAY has issued nearly 40,000 conveyance deeds and authorization slips since 2019, though technical glitches slowed progress; these have been fully addressed. The new scheme will benefit around 5 million people across 1 million families in Delhi's 1,731 unauthorised colonies, with 1,511 eligible—excluding reserve areas, ozone zones, forests, and protected monuments.
Under the revamped system, no layout plan approval is needed; all plots and buildings gain recognition in their current form. Nodal officers will be ADM-rank officials from the revenue department, with patwaris and naib tehsildars conducting joint surveys; strict timelines include GIS reports in 7 days, deficiency memos in 15 days, and conveyance deeds in 45 days. Online applications via the Swagat portal commence April 24, 2026.
DDA Vice Chairman N Saravana Kumar explained that prior TOD zones required minimum 8 hectares and 1-hectare plots, deterring private participation; now reduced to 2,000 sqm, with 500m zones on either side of metro lines and 500m radius around major rail stations as nodes, applicable to existing and proposed networks.
Land use restrictions are fully lifted, though 65% of total FAR must allocate to affordable housing (flats up to 100 sqm), enabling more homes for middle- and low-income groups. A single-window system streamlines project sanctions; the TOD Committee, chaired by the DDA Vice Chairman, will approve building plans in 60 days. TOD charges simplify to ₹10,000 per sqm, ring-fenced in escrow accounts for local infrastructure like roads, sewerage, and drainage—allocated to MCD, DDA, and area-specific use.
Additional Secretary D Thara clarified that while 2019 granted ownership rights, building regularisation needed layout plans, stalling progress; this barrier is removed. Individuals can apply for ownership on the PM-UDAY portal, then upload building plans on MCD's Swagat for regularisation, supported by 700 empanelled architects.
Of 1,731 colonies, 220 in ozone, forest, or ridge areas are excluded; DDA has demarcated the rest for residential regularisation. Areas with 6m roads qualify easily; 4m road zones will widen roads by 1m each side during redevelopment. Limited commercial establishments will regularise in restricted zones.
MCD will conduct monthly drone surveys to monitor new unauthorised constructions, with government handling infrastructure. Those with prior ownership rights can apply directly from April 24.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
