DDA launches redevelopment drive for housing complexes

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched a comprehensive redevelopment plan for group housing complexes, cooperative housing societies and residential projects developed by government agencies, officials said on Friday.

The authority intends to redevelop these areas in line with safety norms outlined in the Master Plan of Delhi, 2021 and to align existing structures with the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy.

Under the 2021 master plan, TOD is an urban model that leverages existing and upcoming public transit infrastructure to promote sustainable mobility and optimise land use through compact, mixed-use development. Officials said this approach could boost public transport ridership, ease vehicular congestion and reduce pollution over time.

“A public notice has been issued inviting companies to prepare redevelopment plans. The basic objective is to upgrade the area by implementing schemes based on existing physical and socio-economic conditions,” the notice stated.

The plan allows for a maximum overall Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 50 per cent above the existing permissible FAR on individual plots, subject to a cap of 400, as an incentive for redevelopment. The proposed amendments under the TOD policy would permit construction of 7-8 storey buildings along metro corridors, compared with the current maximum FAR of around 350 in various city areas.

However, the notice clarified that higher FAR will not be allowed in the Lutyens Bungalow Zone, Civil Lines Bungalows Area and Monument Regulated Zone.

As part of the TOD initiative, the DDA is launching its first residential project, “DDA Towering Heights,” in the Karkardooma area. The project will offer premium flats, with possession expected from July 2026.

The redevelopment plan also allows for flexible planning standards, stating that “the standards of housing density, minimum width of roads and community facilities can be relaxed, wherever justified, by planning considerations.”