Delhi eases mixed-use rules on narrow roads
Delhi's land-pooling policy will allow commercial activity on narrower roads, with new regulations expected in two to three months.
Delhi's new land-pooling regulations will permit mixed-use development on narrower roads. Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Delhi Development Authority vice-chairman N Sarvana Kumar announced the plan on Tuesday, stating the rules should be finalised within two to three months.
The current Master Plan for Delhi 2047 allows commercial use on the ground floor, and on the first floor where there is stilt parking, but only along roads that are at least 30 metres wide. The forthcoming land-pooling regulations are set to extend these mixed-use provisions to smaller roads. Officials are working on different categories of activity based on specific road widths.
New rules for road widths
DDA officials indicated the regulations will define economic activities for roads of varying sizes. The plan involves creating specific categories or slabs for different road widths.
| Road Width | Status in New Regulations |
|---|---|
| 12 metres | Specific commercial activities to be permitted |
| 18 metres | Specific commercial activities to be permitted |
| 30 metres | Already permitted under Master Plan 2047 |
"We are still working out the modalities but it is likely that different kinds of activities will be allowed on different road widths depending on various factors," Kumar said. He added that the authority hopes to release the regulations soon.
A dynamic master plan
Lieutenant Governor Sandhu described the Master Plan 2047 as a dynamic policy. He said it provides a roadmap for developing Delhi into a global city over the next two decades but remains open to changes. "Wherever we feel that there is a need for changes, we will be implementing those as well," Sandhu stated.
The DDA is also advancing other projects under the new plan. This includes transit-oriented development, or TOD, projects following the notification of a fresh TOD policy. Kumar said the first meeting of the committee overseeing this policy is scheduled for Thursday.
Project implementation and oversight
The authority has identified at least 16 mature land-pooling projects for imminent notification. It has also received more than seven proposals for TOD projects from private entities and government agencies. These will be reviewed in the upcoming committee meeting, with some approvals possible soon.
Officials said the new master plan is designed with implementation in mind. It includes mechanisms to monitor progress and assign accountability. For transit-oriented developments, revised norms establish a project monitoring committee for annual reviews. They also propose an escrow account where developers deposit funds. This money can then be transferred to civic agencies to build supporting infrastructure like sewerage and drainage systems.
Changes to the O-zone regulations, which now permit recreational activities and public utilities, could also open doors for private participation, especially on privately owned land. However, officials clarified these provisions would not legalise existing encroachments. Illegal encroachments in areas such as Yamuna Bazar will still have to be removed.
