Rental housing rethink: Draft plan sees role altered for DDA
The draft Master Plan of Delhi-2041 focuses on promoting rental housing and development of small format housing, and advocates what it said was “a paradigm shift in DDA’S role” from developer to facilitator in the housing sector. Private firms will take the lead in some of these roles that DDA will relinquish.
The draft MPD-2041 also proposes major changes in the development control norms to preserve the residential character of localities and prevent rampant commercialisation while allowing mixed-use development.
The plan was placed in the public domain on Wednesday to invite objections and suggestions from the citizens. Once approved and notified by the Centre, the master plan will provide a policy framework for the development of the Capital. It has been prepared by DDA.
NEW DELHI: Emphasis on rental housing
Rental and affordable housing should be promoted within the city, particularly in areas closer to transit points, the plan has proposed. “There is a need to address the housing needs of students, single working men and women, migrants, etc. through affordable housing, rental housing, hostels, studio apartments, serviced apartments, dormitories, etc,” the draft said.
To this end, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and other concerned public agencies may take up dedicated affordable public rental housing projects close to activity centres (industrial areas, educational hubs, etc).
To manage rental assets, the plan says public agencies will be allowed to rope in Rental Management Agencies and housing aggregators, and an online portal will be developed giving information regarding availability, location, rentals, a DDA official said.
AK Jain, former planning commissioner, DDA, said, “It is a good move. A large section of the population can’t afford to buy houses, but need affordable space to stay. There has been a decline in rental housing and this policy will arrest the problem. But we need a strong grievance redressal body.”
As per the draft plan, “A paradigm shift is envisaged in the sup
30
25
20
15
10
5
lllll2021
2026
Sixth largest contributor to the national GDP (7.1%)
Four flatted factory clusters
2031
GDP growth rate 4% higher than the national average
33 planned industrial estates
175,000 MSMES (more than 90% micro enterprises) and 23 notified non-conforming industrial clusters.
No more mixed land use streets
2036
llllllPromoting the concept of ‘24-hour city’ by fostering night time economy No new mixed-use streets or commercial streets to be declared in residential areas
New industrial areas to be developed as hub of clean economy (tech and cyber parks etc)
Multi-use community work centres or co-working spaces to be developed
Development of business promotion districts in industrial areas Providing infrastructure for informal sector
ply scenario, with the private sector leading the development/redevelopment of housing over the plan period. Public agencies shall play the role of a ‘facilitator’ and ensure ease of doing business, through appropriate regulatory environments.”
2041
*If power consumption growth rate is 3%
The draft MPD-2041 has proposed some changes in the development control norms to address the issue of rampant commercialisation in residential areas, planned development in green belt areas, and providing space for more commercial development.
As per the proposed provisions, no new street, specially in residential areas, will be notified
as mixed-use or commercial streets. DDA officials said that while mixed land use development for vertical development of the city is being promoted for planned development, streets will not be declared commercial as adequate provisions have been made to address the need of commercial spaces in the capital.
Since 2007, over 3,000 streets, mostly in residential areas, have been declared as mixed land use, leading to rampant commercialisation in then neighbourhoods.
A DDA official said, “The new plan has provision for mixed land use development on plots which are located on 24-metre wide right of way (ROW). The current provision is for 18-metre ROW. This will check commercialisation to a large extent.”
But residents say that the draft plan is silent on how the problems being faced by people who live in such areas will be addressed. Rajiv Kakria, convenor of Save our City campaign and a resident of Greater Kailash-i, said, “Mixed land use provisions have messed up the residential character of the city. Those who have prepared the plan are not aware of the ground situation.”
No local area plans
MGD: Million gallons per day
*Drop due to rationalised demand, increased use of recycled water for non-potable needs
Local area plans (LAPS), which
were a significant feature of the MPD-2021, have been done away with in the current draft.
Urban planner Shamsher Singh, former chief town planner with the erstwhile MCD, said it is not a good move. “LAPS are needed to give an idea about utilities and infrastructure that is needed at a municipal ward level. It is prepared with the active participation of residents. This is the most basic level of plan or rather it makes the implementation of the MPD easier.”
But DDA officials said that LAPS were never prepared and notified. “We now plan to do more detailed layout plans,” they said.
Industrial and greenbelt areas
The plan proposes that plots in industrial area can be used for commercial, group housing, developing co-working spaces, etc, providing new spaces for commercial development.
It also envisages a green development area policy to allow commercial establishments in 47 greenbelt villages where no new construction, either residential or commercial, is allowed currently.
Environmentalist Diwan Singh said it will hurt “the green buffers of the city.”