Master Plan for Delhi 2041: How the capital plans to grow - and who benefits

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will chair a crucial meeting to assess the long-pending Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2041, a blueprint for the capital’s development over the next two decades.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) submitted the draft to the Centre in April 2023, but it remains stalled awaiting approval from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, ET reported.

Officials confirmed that the DDA vice-chairman will present the draft’s key provisions to the CM and senior bureaucrats, including department heads overseeing industries, environment and revenue.

At the heart of discussions will be Delhi’s industrial strategy - specifically, the proposed development of 1,200 acres across three clusters in Kanjhawla, Ranikhera and Baprola under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Tech, AI and biotech in focus

These zones aim to attract high-value service sectors like IT, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology and research, with projections suggesting they could generate lakhs of jobs, as per ET. A global consultancy firm may be roped in to finalise the development framework, officials added.

The MPD-2041, approved in draft form by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, who also chairs the DDA, in February 2023, emphasises inclusive growth, sustainability and innovation. Key features include transit-oriented hubs, land pooling, heritage conservation, Yamuna rejuvenation and urban regeneration, NBT reported.

A legacy of long-term planning

Delhi’s first master plan was implemented in 1962 under the Delhi Development Act, 1957, with successive blueprints shaping the city’s expansion every 20 years. The 2041 plan, once cleared, will set the template for infrastructure, housing and environmental policies in a capital grappling with congestion and pollution.

While the Centre’s nod remains pending, Monday’s meeting signals the Delhi government’s urgency to fast-track industrial projects. With the PPP model at its core, the plan could redefine Delhi’s economic landscape, if bureaucratic hurdles are cleared.