Key Details
Unveiled on 20 August 2026, the Delhi Master Plan 2047 (MPD-2047) will guide how land can be developed, redeveloped and used across the national capital. It combines denser development in existing areas with infrastructure-led expansion on Delhi’s periphery.
Planning Area | What MPD-2047 Provides |
|---|---|
Housing | Development of around 40 lakh new affordable homes, including approximately 18 lakh in transit-oriented zones and 12 lakh through land pooling. |
Existing colonies | Minimum area for redevelopment of group housing, DDA and government housing reduced from 40,000 sq. m to 3,000 sq. m, potentially enabling around seven lakh additional dwellings. |
Unauthorised colonies | Residential buildings in 1,511 colonies can be regularised on an “as is where is” basis without requiring layout plans, potentially strengthening ownership security for around 45 lakh residents. |
Urban expansion | Nearly 200 sq. km is proposed for development through land pooling, supported by a planned 600-km road network. |
Transit-oriented growth | Higher-density housing and mixed-use development will be promoted around Metro and other public-transport corridors. |
Economic activity | Data centres, e-commerce, warehousing, co-working spaces and large-format retail will be permitted in designated industrial areas. |
Environment and heritage | The Plan covers ecological restoration of nearly 1,700 hectares of Yamuna floodplains and conservation planning for around 1,500 heritage assets. |
Housing Growth Will Depend More on Redevelopment
Delhi has limited vacant land within its established urban area. MPD-2047 therefore relies heavily on redeveloping existing housing colonies and increasing permissible construction around transport corridors.
Reducing the minimum redevelopment area from four hectares to 3,000 sq. m could allow smaller housing societies and groups of neighbouring plots to undertake projects that were previously difficult to assemble. Resident Welfare Associations are expected to be encouraged to adopt redevelopment frameworks based on the in-situ model.
The Plan also proposes:
around 18 lakh affordable homes in transit-oriented development zones;
a 50% Floor Area Ratio incentive for affordable rental housing serving students, migrants, working professionals and low-income households;
an additional 15% FAR for workers’ housing on industrial plots of at least 5,000 sq. m; and
housing interventions for more than 17 lakh residents of jhuggi-jhopri clusters under the “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan” approach.
These categories should not automatically be added together because some may overlap or represent development potential rather than committed construction.
Land Pooling Returns With an Infrastructure-First Model
The Plan envisages nearly 200 sq. km of planned expansion, capable of accommodating around 12 lakh homes. Unlike a model in which development precedes basic infrastructure, DDA is expected to construct roads measuring 30 metres and above before or alongside development.
Planning schemes can cover areas as small as 20 hectares, making implementation less dependent on assembling very large continuous land parcels. Different mechanisms, including town-planning schemes, may be used to bring fragmented land into the development process.
The first notified land-pooling sector — Sector 8B in Zone P-II, covering parts of Gadi Khasro and Ibrahimpur villages — has been identified as ready for implementation.
A proposed high-density corridor along the Urban Extension Road-II could permit FAR of up to 400, concentrating housing and economic activity around major infrastructure rather than allowing dispersed peripheral growth.
What Is FAR?
Floor Area Ratio determines how much floor space can be constructed relative to the size of a plot. An FAR of 400 generally permits total built-up floor area equal to four times the plot area, subject to other planning and building requirements.
Higher FAR can support more homes and commercial space on limited land. Its effectiveness, however, depends on matching additional construction with water, sewerage, roads, public transport, schools, health facilities and open spaces.
A More Flexible Mix of Housing and Economic Uses
MPD-2047 reduces the number of separately regulated premises-use categories from 133 to 45 and introduces a negative-list approach in residential, commercial and industrial zones. Activities not expressly prohibited may therefore face fewer planning restrictions.
Commercial centres will be eligible for redevelopment from a minimum plot size of 1,000 sq. m, supported by higher FAR incentives. Mixed-use buildings will be allowed along roads with a right of way of at least 30 metres, with commercial activities permitted on specified lower floors.
The Plan also gives particular economic roles to two parts of the city:
Narela is proposed as an education hub, with 138 hectares reserved for public and private universities.
Dwarka is positioned as an international gateway and investment hub for IT, start-ups, data centres and industrial parks.
Regularisation Could Strengthen Property Security
The proposed regularisation of residential buildings in 1,511 unauthorised colonies is among the Plan’s most consequential provisions. Removing the requirement for layout plans could simplify a process that has historically been difficult in densely built settlements.
For residents, clearer legal status may improve the ability to transfer property, secure formal services or access finance. But regularisation by itself will not resolve deficits in roads, drainage, water supply, sewerage, fire access and public facilities. The value of the measure will depend on whether tenure security is followed by coordinated infrastructure upgrading.
Mobility, Ecology and Heritage Enter the Same Planning Framework
MPD-2047 proposes a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority to coordinate planning, implementation and enforcement across transport systems. Multimodal hubs are intended to connect Metro, Regional Rapid Transit System services, buses, intermediate public transport, walking and cycling.
Environmental and cultural provisions include:
restoration of nearly 1,700 hectares of the Yamuna floodplains through 13 projects;
a 52-km cycle track along the floodplain;
green connectors linking parks, urban forests and biodiversity areas;
conservation plans for around 1,500 heritage assets; and
adaptive reuse of heritage buildings for museums, hotels, libraries, offices and cultural activities.
The Plan also promotes rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting, water recycling, energy-efficient buildings and expansion of sewage-treatment infrastructure.
Policy Relevance
Implementation capacity will determine whether additional FAR produces better housing or simply greater pressure on services. Infrastructure provision needs to be sequenced with construction approvals, particularly in redevelopment and high-density corridors.
The treatment of unauthorised colonies creates an opportunity to connect property regularisation with neighbourhood upgrading. Ownership security will have limited impact if basic services and climate resilience remain weak.
Land pooling will require credible timelines for roads, water, sewerage and social infrastructure. Infrastructure-first development must be visible on the ground if landowners and developers are expected to participate.
Environmental safeguards will also need to withstand competing development pressures. Restoration of the Yamuna floodplains and protection of low-density ecological areas should be supported by clear land-use boundaries, public spatial data and enforceable monitoring.
Finally, the Plan spans housing, transport, utilities, environment and economic development across several authorities. Its success will depend on whether Delhi can convert a common planning document into coordinated investment, approvals and accountability across institutions.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: Can Delhi add housing and economic capacity at the proposed scale while ensuring that transport, water, sewerage and environmental protection expand before — not after — urban density rises?
Follow the Full Update Here: Delhi Master Plan 2047: A Roadmap for Viksit Delhi