Delhi Master Plan 2047 targets up to 40 lakh new homes, 24-hour city zones

Delhi could get 30-40 lakh additional housing units over the next two decades, along with designated “24-hour city” zones and a substantially larger public transport network, under the newly unveiled Master Plan for Delhi 2047. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said the long-term blueprint had been designed to accommodate an expected increase of around 80 lakh people in the national capital. Delhi's population, currently estimated at about 2.4 crore, is projected to touch 3.2 crore by 2047.

Housing for growing population

The plan envisages adding between 30 lakh and 40 lakh homes, with affordable housing forming a major component. With Delhi's geographical area limited to 1,483 square kilometres, planners are looking towards redevelopment, densification and more efficient use of existing urban land.

Housing expansion will be pursued through redevelopment of existing neighbourhoods, transit-oriented development, land pooling and development of new areas. The blueprint seeks to link new housing more closely with roads, Metro services, water supply, sewerage and other essential infrastructure rather than allowing residential expansion to proceed independently of civic capacity.

Vertical development will play a larger role as Delhi attempts to accommodate additional residents within its limited land area. The plan also proposes mixed-use neighbourhoods combining housing with commercial, recreational and public facilities.

24-hour zones proposed

One of the more significant proposals is the creation of designated “24-hour city” zones where economic and other activities can continue around the clock. Khattar said provisions were being considered for round-the-clock transport, particularly Metro connectivity, in such areas.

The plan also allows ground-floor commercial activity along roads at least 30 metres wide in residential areas. New-economy activities including data centres, co-working facilities and cloud kitchens have been formally recognised within the planning framework.

Building-height restrictions have also been eased, although special controls will continue in areas including the Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, Civil Lines Bungalow Area, Connaught Place, the Yamuna floodplain, Ridge and zones subject to archaeological restrictions.

Metro network to expand

Public transport is central to the blueprint. Delhi's Metro network is targeted to expand to 695 km by 2047, while six additional Regional Rapid Transit System corridors are proposed. Multimodal transport hubs are planned at Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan and Kashmiri Gate.

The Master Plan also addresses redevelopment of unauthorised colonies and rehabilitation of slum clusters, alongside environmental measures including treatment of 22 drains as part of efforts to revive the Yamuna.

The scale of the proposals makes implementation the central challenge. Delhi's previous planning exercises have often struggled with unauthorised construction, infrastructure deficits and gaps between land-use plans and development on the ground. MPD 2047 now attempts to accommodate a considerably larger capital through denser housing, expanded mass transit and more flexible patterns of urban activity.