New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) gave its preliminary approval to the draft Master Plan for Delhi 2041 this week. Uploaded to the DDA website Wednesday, the draft is now in the public domain for objections and suggestions from citizens, following which it is likely to be enforced by the end of this year.
Talking to ThePrint, DDA vice-chairman Anurag Jain said, “People can send in their objections and suggestions within 45 days, after which we will study these carefully and scan them department wise.” He added, “Once, we have done that and incorporated the changes which seem relevant, we will forward the final plan to the Government of India. Our aim is to have it ready by mid-November, so that the Centre has enough time to approve it by year end.”
Once notified, the Master Plan for Delhi 2041 will replace the existing Master Plan of Delhi-2021, which had come into effect on 7 February 2007.
With pandemic-related changes and the increase in population, there has been a simultaneous rise in unemployment. Through new initiatives such as the Delhi’s Nightlife Circuit Plan, the 2041 draft Master Plan has tried to further boost the city’s night-time economy, as compared to that in the Master Plan 2021.
To enhance public participation in the plan, the DDA had last year launched an interactive microsite, the “Public Engagement Portal for MPD-2041”, to share information on the preparation of the MPD-2041. People could also share their feedback and opinion here.
Delhi is the largest city in the country in terms of area, spread across approximately 1,486.5 sq. km. It comprises 367 villages, most of which have been declared as urban villages. There are 11 districts, 33 tehsils/sub-divisions, 272 wards and five local bodies handling civic administration — the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC), South DMC, East DMC, New Delhi Municipal Council and the Cantonment Board. Delhi is divided into 18 planning zones for ease of planning and management.
Running into 448 pages, the draft plan aims at making the capital a more sustainable, liveable and safe city, with housing for all and better economic activities. From house rents to ensuring affordable homes, and an eye on street safety, ThePrint, in this explainer looks at some of the key features of this proposed master plan.
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What is the Delhi Master Plan?
The first Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) was promulgated in 1962 under the Delhi Development Act of 1957, followed by the master plans of 2001 and 2021, each of which extensively modified the previous plan document.
The Master Plan is one of the key instruments, aimed at facilitating the development of the city. It is a ‘strategic’ and ‘enabling’ framework to guide the growth of the city and builds upon lessons learnt from the implementation of the previous plans of 1962, 2001 and 2021 respectively. The DDA is the anchor agency for the Master Plan, while the National Institute of Urban Affairs has also helped in drawing it up, after consultation with experts, traders and other stakeholders.
The draft plan for 2041 is in two volumes and comprises sector-wise policies in the key areas of environment, economy, public spaces, heritage, shelter, mobility and social and physical infrastructure.
It includes spatial development strategies to guide the intensity and type of development across the national capital. These include green development area, regeneration of planned and unplanned areas, transit-oriented development, strategic regeneration and land pooling area. The proposal was first presented and approved in a meeting held on 13 April this year, under the chairmanship of Delhi’s Lieutenant General, Anil Baijal.
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What are the key areas of focus in the 2041 plan?
According to the draft plan, a copy of which is with ThePrint, the primary goals of the 2041 MPD is to make Delhi an environmentally responsible, future-ready city, focusing on ease of living, good quality, affordable, clean and safe living conditions.
It also focuses on creating efficient mobility options for all and to foster a “sustainable, liveable and vibrant Delhi by 2041” that attracts talents and facilitates livelihood opportunities for everyone, inclusive health facilities and a digital city.
Under its commitment to environmental safeguard — one of the key areas of focus — it aims to minimise vehicular pollution by including a shift to greener fuels for public transport and adoption of mixed-use of transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD is an urban design paradigm that has the potential for achieving urban competitiveness, environment sustainability, and social equity.
It also includes a 300-metre wide green-blue corridor, aimed at improving drains and river waterfronts, and allowing regulated development in green belt villages, while preserving eco-cultural assets. The plan has proposed that infrastructure agencies should prepare a dust management plan and get it approved by competent authorities, to combat dust pollution.
Shortage of housing is also a pressing concern that the MPD focuses on. The DDA’s land pooling policy, which was approved earlier in 2018, will make way for the development of 1.7 to 2 million dwelling units in the outskirts of the city. Affordable housing and in-situ rehabilitation of those living in slums and jhuggi-jhpori clusters are other key aspects outlined in the draft.
An area-based improvement approach will be adopted for revitalising the commercial and socio-cultural hubs of the city, including areas like Connaught Place, Mandi House, Pragati Maidan and Shahjahanabad (Walled City). Improved connectivity and transport infrastructure, shift from private to shared mobility and making Delhi “walkable” and “cyclable” are also mentioned.
A Comprehensive Mobility Plan or CMP will be prepared for Delhi to achieve this integration across all modes of urban transport, according to the draft.
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What are nightlife circuits?
The MPD 2041 advocates for identifying areas in the city for continuing work, cultural activity and entertainment at night, to attract tourists and locals. This will improve economic yield, by extending the utilisation of workspaces, and safety in the city by promoting a vibrant nightlife, the draft plan explained.
While attempting to boost night time economies, the plan explains that an active night life is also important for improving safety. Under this, local bodies and the tourism department will identify these areas and extend timings for hotels, restaurants, socio-cultural activities, entertainment, as well as sports facilities.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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