The National Capital Delhi Master Plan 2021 – What does it foresee?

Following an event series that strengthened sealing drive in Delhi and special task force formation, the Supreme Court partly altered the stay order on the amendments that were proposed in master plan 2021 Delhi. The apex court held these amendments in the DDA master plan on March 6 that might have helped standardize illegitimate construction in Delhi. The changes agreed by the Delhi Development Authority were intended to grant protection from the sealing drive that was ongoing in Delhi. The proposal with sanctioned changes was anticipated to be forwarded to the Urban Development Ministry for its authorization. The new amendments help attain a balance following apprehensions raised by the RWA – resident welfare associations, the Board of Enquiry and the Hearing, traders, and DDA Technical Committee.

Public Agitation for Delhi Master Plan 2021

The sealing drive raised a public grievance at a large-scale since the trader's associations and the shopkeepers were demanding residential plot development control standards applicability for shop-cum-home plots. The Supreme Courts inquired the land possessing agency on the recommended amendments and increasing the permitted FAR at part for shop-cum-home plots and complexes and ordered DDA to file an affidavit. The Supreme Court also set up a monitoring committee to supervise law implementation to the sealing of unlawful premises in the nation’s capital.

Delhi Government’s Stand

The government of Delhi showed dissatisfaction with the suggested amendments. They said that the master plan that is amended will not offer any instant relief from sealing since shopkeepers will still face the outrage until the finalized amendments are accepted by the Supreme Court, which might take significant time. Additionally, shops that were sealed in the drive cannot be opened till that time, as a consequence of which the traders who are affected do not have any relief. The sole way to stop sealing instantaneously is to introduce an ordinance.

Monitoring Committee

The monitoring committee appointed by the Supreme Court had asked the authorities to increase the sealing drive over fitness centers. The LSCs [local shopping complexes], who came under the New Delhi Municipal Council, and east, south, and north Delhi municipal corporation jurisdiction, were to be sealed immediately if they were to breach the standard building plan. The DDA decided to take away the date of August 12, 2008, which was the cut-off as per the MPD and put new regulations in place for fitness centers to function from residential areas.

Fitness Centers

Fitness centers were put in the “other activities” category. The proposal was to eliminate the cut-off date and create provisions to permit the fitness centers in the basement and ground floor on mixed land use. It was said that the proposal would be put out in public sphere post-approval, for 30 to 45 days to get objections/suggestions, which will then be followed by a public hearing prior to notification of amendment.

Fitness Centers were still getting notices of sealing from municipal bodies in huge numbers. They feared that their centers might get closed any minute. They called for a meeting of fitness center owners, municipal officials, and politicians to discuss things.

DDA consents- For Delhi Gym Owners Relief as DDA Approves Changes in Master Plan

The DDA approved the changes to the Master Plan Delhi to include gyms, yoga centers and fitness centers. After considering different representations obtained, fitness centers were permitted to continue functioning, given their role to help the Fit India Movement become a success. The development of Delhi semi-public, basic public amenities besides general commercial facilities was not able to keep pace with an increasing population that resulted in the rise in mixed-use. The policy intended to have a sense of balance between social and economic DDA requirements and its impact in residential areas.

The DDA- Delhi Development Authority has sanctioned the changes in the Delhi Master Plan 2021, thus offering huge relief to the distressed gym owners in the capital of the nation. 814 suggestions and objections for the shop-cum-home category and 115 for godowns grouping were obtained from the public. The Supreme Court had instructed the central government to invite recommendations and feedback prior to changing the Delhi plan.

The draft was reported to invite public views in 2005. It obtained 7000 suggestions and objections and 611 organizations/people were offered individual hearings on this. The present plan form was sanctioned by the Union Urban Development Ministry in 2007 and said that it would be reassessed every 5 years.

Categorization

18 focus areas are classified in the plan based on which the city will be transformed into a world-class one. These include public participation and plan implementation, shelter, redevelopment, land policy, housing for the poor, unauthorized colonies, environment, mixed-use development, informal sector, trade and commerce, industry, transportation, heritage conservation, educational amenities, health infrastructure, sports facilities provision, disaster management and focal point on infrastructure development.

Population Accommodation

The total population of Delhi is estimated to reach 225 lakh by 2021 and the conveys that efforts need to be taken to keep it under 220 lakh. To accommodate this population, the master plan requests to adopt a three-pronged approach by expanding the limits of the city, encouraging people to transfer to suburbs, and increasing population-holing capability of present areas by renewing them.

Redevelopment

There is a huge proportion of underutilized land with more vacant sites dilapidated areas remaining vacant in Delhi, of which many are possessed by the government. They need to be planned for redevelopment to make the best possible use of the resources.

Senior living

People above the age group of 60 are anticipated to touch 24 lakh, which would form 10.7 percent of the Delhi population. The master plan intends to simplify the elderly people’s lives by offering low-floor buses, special seats, old-age homes, exclusive seats in public toilets and access ramps in public buildings.

Various Areas

The master plan characterizes the Shahjahanabad [walled city] and its extension [Sadar Bazar, PaharGanj, Roshanara Road, and its adjoining areas] & Karol Bagh as special areas. They are a combination of various land uses and possess resemblances in compact build form, constricted circulation space and low-rise developments, mostly accommodating commercial, residential sites. The regulations will be diverse for expanding these areas from other places in the city.

PSU Offices

There will be no central and public sector offices built in the NCTD [National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Solid-Waste Management

The plans state that the solid waste management issue in the city is becoming serious owing to a rise in the urbanization, population, changing consumption and lifestyle patterns. To handle this issue, it recommends landfill setups. The area needed for disposal for solid waste through different technologies that include sanitary landfill sites will be set aside in the zonal plans.

Mix-Use Land Policy

To endorse non-residential activities in places that are intended for housing, the plan predicts a mixed-use policy that might help the national capital utilize the lands to a maximum level. But, the mixed-use prototype is not allowed in the Civil Lines Bungalow Zone, Lutyen’s Bungalow Zone, institutional/staff housing of private and public agencies, and government housing.