The Central Government has notified the Master Plan for 2021 on 7^th February 2007, in exercise of powers under the Delhi Development Act, 1957. The notification of the MPD 2021 marks the culmination of a detailed and extensive exercise carried out over the past three years to modify the Master Plan to meet the challenges of fast evolving changes in the urban scenario in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

            The Plan for 2021 sets out a new direction and character to the future growth of the city, taking into account:

·    the socio-economic aspirations of the growing population of citizens including the large number of migrants mainly of economically weaker sections of society;

·    the need for effective and optimal utilization of land, a scarce and limited commodity in Delhi;

·    the economics of providing shelter, commercial space, civic amenities, education and health facilities and recreational areas;

·    the need to preserve both the architectural heritage and the natural environment;

·            recognition of the role of informal service providers, small enterprises and the unorganized sector in the economy, and;

·    the ground realities as well as issues of municipal governance and enforcement. 

Major Policy Initiatives

            The MPD 2021 projects that the population of Delhi in 2021 will be around 220-230 lakhs and accordingly the proposals for development of land, housing, infrastructure, services, public and semi-public facilities, recreational parks, etc. have been worked out. The major policy initiatives and salient features in the Master Plan 2021 include the following:

1.         Shelter: Housing to be developed through a mix of redensification, redevelopment and creation of new housing in urban extension (about 20000 hectares). Provision of homes also made for Elderly, Night Shelters and Hostels.

2.              Emphasis would be on housing for urban poor:

a.Housing for urban poor shall be about 50% of total number of dwelling units to come up in future;

b.In-situ rehabilitation of slums and JJ clusters, using land as a resource would be preferred option; Built-up accommodation of about 25 sqm area in multi-storied structures, to be allotted in place of 18 sqm and 12.5 sqm plots.

c. Compulsory construction of at least 35% of dwelling units or 15% of permissible FAR, whichever is higher in the form of EWS units by all developers of group housing.

3.         Optimal utilization of land is planned to accommodate growing population:

            a. Shift from plotted housing to group housing (about 90%).

b. Enhancement of ground coverage, FAR and height for all categories of residential plots to increase available space.

c.Re-categorization of housing types, development control norms and differential densities to make EWS/LIG housing viable and economical;

4.            Redevelopment both in planned and unplanned areas is incentivised through various measures such as permission to amalgamate plots, higher FAR etc.

a. Planned Areas: Influence Zone along MRTS and Major Transport Corridor; underutilized/low-density areas; Special Area; shopping/commercial centres; Industrial areas/clusters and resettlement colonies, pre-1962 areas/buildings in dilapidated condition.

b. Unplanned Areas:  Villages,  unauthorized colonies and JJ Clusters. 

5.         Plan caters to unplanned areas by paving the way for regularization of Unauthorized Colonies as per government policy and by proposing realistic norms for Walled city, Slum &JJ resettlement colonies, and village abadis.

6.         Private sector participation in land assembly, development and housing has been envisaged. Monopoly on land acquisition and development of housing stock has been lifted.

7.           Civic amenities: In order to meet the increased requirement of water, sewerage system and power supply, Perspective plans for these infrastructure services as prepared by the service agencies/ GNCTD have been taken into account and annexed to the Master Plan. An area of about 10,000 Hectares is proposed for accommodating sanitary landfills, power generation & transmission facilities, and sewage & water treatment plants.

8.         Commercial space: Connaught Place and its extensions, commercial areas in Walled city, its extension and Karol Bagh proposed to be developed as Metropolitan City Centres. Height restriction in larger Commercial centres has been removed. Mandatory provisions of space (minimum 10%) introduced for service and repair activities in planned Commercial areas. Informal shops, weekly markets, handicrafts bazaars, to be developed. Vending sites and hawking zones to be delineated as per national Policy on Urban Street Vendors, benefiting more than two lakh vendors.

9.                   Industry: Permission to use certain industrial areas for commercial purposes. Redevelopment made permissible. IT industry included as permissible industry in existing industrial area. New industrial areas suggested for Hi-tech industries.

10.                  Transport and parking: Emphasis on integrated multi-modal transportation system, redevelopment along mass rapid transit corridors; provision for multi-level and under-ground parking. Private sector can develop multi level parking plots.

11.        Mixed Use: Flexible land use through mixed use policy has been strengthened with a view to meet demand for space for retail trade, health facilities, pre-primary schools, tuition centres, and guest houses and banks in residential areas. Space will be identified in city level and sub-city level markets to enable relocation of trades not permissible in mixed use areas. 

12.         Introduction of norms for banquet halls, multipurpose grounds, amusement parks in view of growing requirement for such amenities.

13.         Heritage: Policies delineated for conservation of built heritage and introduction of chapter on urban design. Special Conservation and development Plans to be prepared.

14.                  Environment: Emphasis on environment-friendly policies and rejuvenation of River Yamuna. A hierarchy of District and neighbourhood parks envisaged. A green belt is to be maintained to cover about 11,000 hectares consisting of one revenue village depth along periphery of NCTD wherever available.

15.        Plan Implementation and Monitoring: Commitment to prepare Zonal Plans and Special Area Plans within a year. Preparation of local area plans by local bodies through Participatory planning.

16.              Performance-oriented planning and development, with focus on implementation and monitoring. Introduction of Plan Monitoring Framework and five yearly review of MPD.

17.        GIS mapping proposed to be done and updated from time to time.  This would provide valuable data as regards ground situation and also provide inputs to prevent development of unauthorized colonies, encroachment on public land and maintenance of green cover etc.

Wide ranging consultations in finalization of MPD 2021

            Keeping in view the democratic procedure the Plan has been finalized after obtaining the views of the public and undertaking extensive consultation. The DDA also had the benefit of the reports of 12 study groups set up with experts and stakeholders on various aspects such as shelter, demography, conservation, transportation, industry, environment, mixed use, infrastructure, trade and commerce etc. Five seminars were organized by the DDA on various aspects involving experts in the field, representatives of the GNCTD and local bodies and NGOs. The Draft MPD 2021 was also discussed at length in the Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi and the suggestions made by the Members were considered and forwarded by the Delhi Cabinet to the Authority and the Ministry of Urban Development for its consideration. A large number of representations received in the Ministry of Urban development from various interest groups such as RWAs, Lawyer, Doctors, Chartered Accountants, traders, residents, etc were also considered. Personal interaction with various interest groups as well as elected representatives including Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly, Municipal Councilors were held by the Minister and the Minister of State for Urban Development at various points of time.  

            As part of the statutory process, the Draft Master Plan had been notified for inviting public suggestions/objections through Gazette Notification dated 16.03.2005 and public notice in newspapers on 08.04.2005. In response, about 7000 suggestions / objections were received, which were considered by the Board of Enquiry in DDA which met on 17 occasions and also offered personal hearing to about 611 persons/organizations.  The DDA considered the revised draft MPD 2021 along with the report of the Board of Enquiry in three sittings held on 29.12.2006, 4.1.2007 and 19.1.2007 before it was sent to the Ministry of Urban Development for approval.  The Ministry of Urban Development considered the proposal in the light of the inputs received from DDA and from various quarters and finally approved the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 in the present form.

Response to immediate concerns:

            In the context of present crisis with respect to demolitions, sealing, etc. the Master Plan addresses the concerns of the citizens as follows: 

Mixed use

·    Retail shops have been allowed in residential plots on ground floor on mixed use streets and commercial activity on all floors on commercial streets/areas. In addition, small retail shops of upto 20 sqm have been allowed on ground floor, in residential areas, including group housing, A & B colonies, village abadis and unauthorized colonies. Clinics and dispensaries permissible within 20 sqm area in residential areas.

·            Commercial use existing prior to 1962 and commercial activity to the extent permitted in MPD 1962 has also been protected. Pre-1962 colonies have been equated to rehabilitation colonies within their respective categories.

·    Nursing Homes, Dispensaries, Clinics, Banks, Nursery Schools, Guest Houses, etc. have been permitted in residential plots subject to criteria of plot-size and Right of Way (ROW) of the road.

·    No restriction of plot-size and ROW for Nursing Homes, Clinics, Dispensaries and Pathology Labs in Walled City, Walled City extension, village abadis and unauthorised regularized colonies. Relaxation in minimum plot size to 100 sqm. for Nursing Homes, Clinics, Dispensaries, Pathology labs.

·    Existing schools in non-conforming areas have been given opportunity to continue during next 3 years, subject to regularization. Coaching centres and tuition centres made permissible in residential plots and those in non conforming area allowed to continue till end of May 2008.

·    List of Professionals who can operate from residential premises has been expanded. It now includes Lawyer, Doctor, Architect, Chartered Accountant, Engineer, Company Secretary, Cost and Works Accountant, Town Planner, Media Professionals, Documentary Film Makers.

·            Basements may be used for professional activity in Residential areas as well as for shops on notified mixed use/ commercial streets.

Housing

·    Floor Area Ratio and ground coverage have been substantially enhanced. With a view to providing more space for lower income strata of society, FAR has been enhanced from 225 to 350 for small plots.

·    Special Building Regulations have been proposed for Walled City, Walled City Extension, Unauthorized-regularized Colonies and Village Abadis keeping in view their historical and special character, subject to a height of 15 m, and punitive action to be precluded till then subject to registration within four months and submission of structural safety certificate within six months.