India Unveils Delhi Master Plan 2047 for 3.2 Crore People

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar unveiled the Master Plan for Delhi 2047 (MPD-2047), a long-term urban development roadmap designed to accommodate a projected population of 3.2 crore. The plan targets the construction of 30 to 40 lakh new dwelling units, emphasizing affordable housing and the redevelopment of unauthorized colonies. For the first time, the framework permits landmark buildings exceeding 100 floors along mass-transit corridors.

To manage growth within a fixed land area, the plan promotes Transit-Oriented Development within 500 meters of transit hubs and introduces 24-hour city zones. Infrastructure expansions include growing the Delhi Metro network to 695 km, establishing eight Regional Rapid Transit System corridors, and proposing seven high-speed rail links to cities like Varanasi and Amritsar. The plan also envisions futuristic transport, including air taxis and air pods, to link Indira Gandhi International Airport with the Noida International Airport at Jewar.

Environmental restoration is a central pillar, focusing on the revival of the Yamuna river through the treatment of 22 discharging drains and the designation of 1,700 hectares of floodplains as no-construction zones. Economic growth will be driven by a new education hub in Narela and an investment hub for IT and data centers in Dwarka. To make slum rehabilitation financially viable for private developers, the plan introduces a high Floor Area Ratio of 500 for in-situ projects.