Delhi Master Plan 2047 Introduces Mandatory Land Pooling Under Town Planning Schemes
Areas across Delhi could soon be notified under town planning schemes, requiring landowners to mandatorily pool their land for planned development, including roads, parks, and other public infrastructure. The provision was introduced in the Master Plan for Delhi-2047, which was notified on Thursday, according to a senior Delhi Development Authority official speaking on Friday.
The new town planning scheme model is aimed at taking forward Delhi's land pooling policy in areas where landowners have been unable to come together voluntarily. The DDA's broader land pooling policy covers 105 villages across six zones and is estimated to eventually unlock land for approximately 12 lakh homes.
According to the official, the new framework will not replace the existing voluntary consortium model. Instead, it provides the DDA an alternative mechanism to assemble land in pockets smaller than 20 hectares that fail to form a consortium. Master plan roads measuring 30 metres and wider in high-density corridors and low-density areas will be constructed through these town planning schemes.
Under the town planning model, plots will be reconstituted once portions are allocated for roads, open spaces, social infrastructure, and civic services. If a landowner holds one acre and half of it is required for a road, the floor area ratio permissible on the entire acre can be utilised on the remaining plot. The official noted that benefits and outcomes for landowners will match those offered under the existing land pooling setup.
The DDA halted direct land acquisition in 2013 and introduced land pooling under the Master Plan for Delhi-2021, shifting its role from developer to facilitator. Under the consortium model, owners of adjoining plots measuring 20 hectares or more surrender 40% of their pooled land to the DDA for public infrastructure while retaining 60% for residential and commercial projects.
However, the requirement for at least 70% of landowners in a sector to agree before processing proposals led to frequent delays, particularly in sectors spanning multiple villages. To address these hurdles, the authority has also permitted individual landowners holding at least 20 hectares to approach the DDA directly.
The DDA has reviewed similar town planning models operating in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. It is currently processing amendments to the Delhi Development Act to formally incorporate mandatory pooling under town planning schemes. Detailed regulations covering the policy are expected in the coming months following approval from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
