What Led to a Major Policy Shift in Land Pooling Policy, Delhi!

Master Plan Delhi, 2021 is a major reformatory step on the path to revamp the existing urban development policy in India. On the imminent need of planned urbanization, Master Plan Delhi 2021 has surfaced as a breather to sort out the urban woes for the policy makers in India.  

Aligning to the new government’s initiative Smart City project, Land Pooling Policy Delhi is an integral part of MPD 2021 to carry out the housing and commercial development activities in Delhi.

 ·        Introduction to Land Pooling Policy Delhi: The renewed land pooling policy to simplify the problem of massive urban settlement needed for development of areas around Delhi on the lines of Smart Cities. Part of MPD 2021, the new Land Pooling Policy was notified on SO no. -2687 (E) by the Urban Development Ministry on 5th September 2015. MPD 2021 aims to create five sub cities at outskirts of Delhi to facilitate housing units to around 24 million Delhities by 2021. The new policy allows private builders and registered housing societies now on to buy land straight from land owners and then carry out the construction activities in the region.

·        Features of New Land Pooling Policy: In the new land pooling policy, a major policy shift has been made in the manner the land is acquired by DDA, previously, from farmers and land owners. With the first master plan in implementation in 1961, DDA used to acquire land straight from farmers on its set price. After that DDA on acquired land was in practice of conducting planning and then after selling land piece by piece to the farmers. However, with private players coming into the field of housing development by 1980, the land prices soared and it became difficult for DDA to acquire land from farmers on its set rate and prices. In the light of projects being delayed due to price rise and non cooperative attitude of farmers DDA formed new Land Pooling Policy, Delhi. 

Therefore, in the new land policy, DDA has allowed the CGHS societies and Private builders to procure land straight from the farmers and has limited its role. DDA now on is in supervisory role. The land by CGHS societies after purchase is surrendered to pooling agency DDA for planning purposes.  DDA after proper planning return that land back to developers while keeping a certain part of the land for external developmental and civic amenities. The features for housing development for pooled land follow as:-   

1.     5 to 50 acres the ration will be 48:52

2.     For more than 50 acres ratio is 60:40

3.     The returned land will be used as housing complex according to the norms.

4.     The building will be environmental friendly green building.

5.     Provision for adequate car parking ie (2ecs / 100 square meter)

6.     A maximum of 55 flats can be accommodated in one acre of land before pooling density is 800 – 1000 pph. 

Among all the MPD 2021 zones in Delhi, Land Pooling Policy in L zone is the of the great commercial value due to the L Zone’s location being closer to IGI international airport and millennium city Gurgoan.