Delhi Master plan-2021 was drafted in end 2005 and exactly a year after the draft plan was announced, the Master plan is finally tabled. The implementation of the Master Plan of Delhi 2021 was discussed by the Delhi Cabinet on December 27. And the DDA Board has extended the date of passing the plan till January 6, 2007 and efforts are on to notify it before January 31, 2007.

The Delhi Master Plan - 2021 for the development of Delhi envisages opening up of 27,000 hectares for urban development till 2021 with a requirement of 2.4 million dwelling units. But the Master Plan cautions that the existing residential areas would accommodate about 153 lakhs population after being fully redeveloped; but there are uncertainties when the city population increases to 230 lakhs.

In view of the limited geographical area of Delhi, Master Plan Delhi-2021 (MPD-2021) has adopted a three-step strategy to accommodate the projected population of 230 lakhs by year 2021.

The strategies are:

• To encourage population shift to NCR towns
• To increase the population-holding capacity of a given area through redevelopment
• Extension of present urban limits

Urban extension: The Master Plan points out that the remaining population out of the 230 lakhs (153 lakhs to be accommodated through redevelopment), 29 lakhs exists in villages, unauthorized colonies and clusters. The remaining 48 lakhs now need to be accommodated in urban extensions. Sixty percent of the housing needs of the city as urban extensions would from now on come up in MPD identified various zones in north Delhi, northwest Delhi, Narela and NCR cities.

These urban extensions would have planned development with
Residential purposes: 45-55 percent land
Commercial purposes: 3-4 percent
Industrial purposes: 4-5 percent
Green belt and recreational facilities: 15-20 percent
Roads: 10-12 percent

Re-development: The MPD-2021 is considering the pooling of properties for planning purposes. This means that people can pool in their properties and construct a multi storied housing complex. It would also enhance the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), or the amount of permitted construction for specific redevelopment area. The cluster block should be a minimum of 3000 sq.m and a minimum of 30 per cent area reserved for common facilities. This would be permitted in all areas, except Lutyen's Bungalow Zone.

Extension of present urban limits: This can be done by formulating a five-tier system of commercial areas in Delhi.

• Firstly, the Metropolitan City Centre which pertains to the already developed Central Business Districts (CBD) like Connaught Place and its extensions, Walled city and its extensions and Karol Bagh area. They would be developed as major attractions of the city.
• Secondly, district centers like Nehru Place, Rajendra Place, Saket etc. would serve a population of about 5 lakhs.
• Thirdly, the community centers could serve a population of 1 lakh and then the Local Shopping Centres to serve a population of about 10 thousand.
• Lastly, are the convenience shopping centers which can serve a population of about 5000. The areas already built would be developed and those which haven't been built so far would be done now