Delhi Master Plan 2047: Comprehensive Urban Development Framework

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Shri Manohar Lal, unveiled the Delhi Master Plan 2047 (MPD-2047) in the presence of Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Rekha Gupta. The plan represents a comprehensive roadmap to transform Delhi into an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and globally competitive capital city aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Housing Development and Redevelopment

The Master Plan envisages the development of approximately 40 lakh new affordable housing units to meet future housing requirements. Specific provisions include redevelopment of existing areas with minimum area requirement reduced from 40,000 sqm to 3,000 sqm, potentially generating around 7 lakh additional dwelling units. The plan includes development of around 18 lakh affordable houses in Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Zones and provisions for dignified homes for jhuggi jhopri clusters benefiting more than 17 lakh dwellers. Additional 15% FAR is provided for workers' housing on industrial plots of 5,000 sqm and above, with 50% FAR incentive for affordable rental housing targeting students, working professionals, migrant workers, and low-income groups.

Land Pooling and Infrastructure Development

The Land Pooling Policy commissioning involves nearly 200 sq. km of planned urban expansion creating around 12 lakh new homes with a 600 km road network. Government-led, infrastructure-first development includes DDA developing 30-metre and wider roads upfront. High-Density Corridor development in Land Pooling area with FAR up to 400 along 250 m wide corridor along UER-II is introduced. Sector 8B, Zone P-II in Village Gadi Khasro and Ibrahimpur is identified as the first notified sector ready for implementation.

Economic and Commercial Revitalization

The plan allows redevelopment of commercial centres in minimum plot area of 1,000 sqm through incentivised FAR, encouraging investment transformation into modern business destinations. Mixed-use development along 30.0 m RoW and above permits commercial activities on ground floor and first lower floor. Modern industrial parks with flexible zoning are promoted, permitting big-box retail, e-commerce, warehousing, co-working spaces, and data centers to support innovation and start-ups.

Heritage Conservation and Environmental Initiatives

The plan includes conservation of approximately 1,500 heritage assets with Cultural Resource Management Plans and adaptive reuse for hotels, museums, offices, libraries, and cultural activities. A heritage incentive of 50 TDR is introduced for the first time. Environmental protection measures include conservation and ecological restoration of nearly 1,700 hectares of Yamuna floodplains through 13 major restoration projects and development of 52 km cycle track along Yamuna floodplain.

Special Zone Development

Narela is designated as an education hub with 138 Ha land reserved for development of universities (both public and private). Dwarka is planned as Delhi's International Gateway with world-class infrastructure and future-ready industries including IT, start-ups, data centers, and industrial parks.

Transportation and Mobility Infrastructure

The plan establishes a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority as a single authority for planning, development, implementation, and enforcement of integrated transport policies. Multi-modal transit hubs will be developed for seamless connectivity between Metro, RRTS, buses, intermediate public transport, walking, and cycling. Development of UER-I, UER-II and UER-III will strengthen intra-city and inter-state connectivity, with UER-II already providing faster connectivity. A Unified Parking Planning Framework is introduced for integrated planning, management, and regulation of parking.

Regulatory Simplification and Governance

Online approvals and streamlined processes are implemented to improve Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living. Regulatory simplification reduces 133 use premises to 45, and a negative list approach for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial use zones is incorporated allowing greater flexibility. Plot-based redevelopment is encouraged with waiver of area level requirement of 4 Ha land, and commercial redevelopment is promoted through higher FAR incentives with reduced minimum plot sizes to 1,000 sqm.

Regularization and Social Inclusion

The plan provides for regularization of residential buildings in 1,511 unauthorized colonies on an "as is where is" basis without requirement of layout plans, simplifying the regularization process and providing greater property ownership security for approximately 45 lakh residents. The framework promotes a safe and vibrant 24x7 city with planned cultural circuits and age-friendly infrastructure.

Environmental and Technological Infrastructure

Infrastructure expansion includes sewage treatment plants (STPs) and sewerage infrastructure improvement to support cleaner Yamuna. Net Zero development is promoted through energy-efficient buildings and low-carbon urban planning, encouraging rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting, water recycling, waste-to-resource initiatives, and green mobility. GIS-based planning and digital platforms are implemented for transparent, efficient, and data-driven urban planning. Green Connect Network improves access to recreational spaces and strengthens ecological connectivity through urban forests, biodiversity parks, ecological corridors, and indigenous plantations.

Core Capital and Low-Density Area Development

The plan strengthens the capital's administrative and ceremonial core through redevelopment of Kartavya Path to create world-class public and cultural space, and development of Yuge Yugeen National Museum (approximately 1.25 lakh sqm) as a landmark cultural institution. A planned and regulated framework is established for nearly 150 sq km of Low-Density Areas covering peripheral villages and 23 notified LDRA villages, allowing residential, recreational, PSP, and commercial activities with continuity of arterial roads from Land Pooling areas.