New Delhi, April 7: In a significant move, the Central Government has announced the regularization of 1,511 unauthorized colonies in Delhi, providing relief to over 4.5 million migrant residents. Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, made the announcement on Tuesday, stating that these colonies will be regularized on a ‘as is, where is’ basis.
The requirement for an approved layout plan has also been removed. Residents of over 60 affluent unauthorized colonies, such as Soldier Farms and Anant Ram Dairy, were given hope, although they will need to pay higher fees for regularization. The exact fee schedule is yet to be clarified, but the minister assured, “We will definitely proceed with this.”
Manohar Lal described the decision to regularize these 1,511 ‘illegal colonies’ as a historic moment for the residents of Delhi. This announcement is expected to bring relief to the 4.5 million migrant residents living in these unplanned colonies, which have emerged over the past three to four decades due to a shortage of affordable housing for the city’s growing population.
He noted that the Central Government had initiated the ‘Prime Minister – Housing Rights Scheme for Unauthorized Colonies in Delhi’ (PM-UDAY) in 2019 to grant ownership rights to residents. However, the lack of approved layout plans had slowed down the process.
The current decision to regularize colonies on an ‘as is, where is’ basis is expected to encourage residents to register their properties. The removal of the previous requirement for an approved layout plan will expedite this entire process.
Manohar Lal emphasized that this decision will not only provide legal ownership but also allow residents to construct or redevelop their homes in accordance with urban building regulations.
He added that these revolutionary steps have been taken under the guidance and inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under his leadership, Delhi is witnessing a new era of planned and inclusive urban development aimed at solving longstanding issues while preparing the city for the future.
In total, there are 1,731 unauthorized colonies in the national capital. Of these, 1,511 colonies were declared eligible for regularization on an ‘as is, where is’ basis. The remaining colonies did not qualify due to being located in non-conforming areas, green zones like the Delhi Ridge, near riverbanks, or in violation of archaeological regulations near historical monuments.
The regularization of unauthorized colonies symbolizes the fulfillment of a major electoral promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party in its manifesto for Delhi. More than one million migrant families reside in these colonies, primarily from Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and other northern states.
Manohar Lal stated that the 1,511 unauthorized colonies, which do not fall under the criteria for exclusion, will be regularized without any approved layout plan on an ‘as is, where is’ basis. All plots and buildings in these colonies will be considered residential, and convenience shops up to 20 square meters will also be regularized, provided they have a six-meter-wide access road. For shops up to 10 square meters, the required road width may be less than six meters.
The regularization process will apply to existing structures based on the ‘as is, where is’ principle; the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and local bodies will issue regularization certificates, survey vacant plots, and assist in the development of civic infrastructure.
The revenue department of the Delhi government will issue ‘Conveyance Deeds’ or ‘Authority Certificates’ to eligible residents. An inter-agency cell, including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), MCD, and GNCTD, will prepare layout plans using satellite imagery. However, the lack of layout plans will not hinder the regularization process.
This amendment represents a shift from a framework focused solely on ownership rights to a comprehensive framework that enables the MCD, DDA, and Delhi government to facilitate both ownership and regularization of unauthorized colonies in a streamlined manner.
Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the significant relief granted to residents of these 1,511 colonies. She announced that the application process will commence on April 24. A timeline of seven days for GIS surveys, 15 days for addressing application deficiencies, and 45 days for issuing Conveyance Deeds has been established.
She further stated, “The Central and Delhi governments have collaboratively removed 22 major obstacles in this process to ensure that millions of families receive their rights without delay, pending issues, or hassle. Additionally, small shops up to 20 square meters will also be regularized under certain conditions, providing relief to small traders.”
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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