The real estate narrative in the National Capital Region (NCR) is shifting. The momentum of residential growth is increasingly being fuelled by peripheral towns and micro-markets — not the traditional city cores.
Driven by upgraded connectivity, abundant land, and lifestyle amenities, areas like the Dwarka Expressway, Southern Peripheral Road (SPR), New Gurugram, Yamuna Expressway, Greater Noida West, Siddharth Vihar and Faridabad, are now driving the region’s housing boom, outpacing traditional city centres in sales, launches, and price appreciation.
According to data from Cushman & Wakefield, Delhi-NCR recorded 10,245 new residential unit launches in Q3 of 2025, marking a 12 percent rise over the previous quarter. New Gurugram and Dwarka Expressway regions emerged as the most active submarkets, accounting for 23 percent and 20 percent of launches, respectively, while Greater Noida contributed 14 percent.
Real estate experts said that the growth in these peripheral micro-markets is fuelled by massive infrastructure investments, such as Noida International Airport, Dwarka Expressway, Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and extension of metro corridors.
Developers follow demand
Ishaan Singh, Director, realty firm AIPL, said that luxury homebuyers these days are redefining what luxury means. It’s no longer about marble floors and chandeliers — it’s about intelligent design, seamless connectivity, and curated experiences.
“The Dwarka Expressway exemplifies this shift. It allows developers to create premium developments with expansive layouts and lifestyle-driven amenities that are not feasible in congested city cores. For today’s buyer, the true measure of luxury is not just the interiors, but the time saved and quality of life gained,” he said.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, the SPR–New Gurugram belt has become one of NCR’s most active residential zones. Property prices have surged more than 120 percent in the past five years, with projects worth over Rs 50,000 crore launched since 2022.
Ashwani Kumar of Pyramid Infratech said market sentiment has turned decisively in favour of these emerging hubs and builders are actively pivoting to micro-markets beyond city centres.
“We are seeing land acquisitions along SPR, Dwarka Expressway, and New Gurugram spike. Buyer sentiment is shifting as people are willing to trade proximity for ease of commute, green surroundings, and future capital upside,” he said.
Uddhav Poddar, CMD, Bhumika Group, said township-style living is redefining Faridabad’s image.
“Faridabad’s connectivity upgrade — from the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway to the upcoming metro extensions — is attracting developers who once overlooked the city. Townships here offer a compelling value proposition — large green spaces, lower densities, and scope for phased growth. As infrastructure links get stronger, residents won’t feel disconnected,” he said.
Infrastructure the game-changer
The transformation of these micro-markets is underpinned by massive infrastructure investments, such as the construction of Dwarka Expressway, Noida International Airport, Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, among others.
Experts said that once considered too far from Delhi’s core, these corridors are now turning into NCR’s hottest investment destinations. Better connectivity, expressway linkages, and new-age luxury projects have transformed these markets into magnets for both developers and buyers.
Kumar said that each project has pulled the periphery closer to major job centres, shrinking commutes and raising liveability indices. “Even Greater Noida West and the Yamuna Expressway corridor — once marked by slow absorption — are seeing steady buyer interest, especially in mid- and upper-mid segments linked to upcoming airports and industrial corridors,” he said.
He added that with core city land exhausted and prices soaring, the next decade of NCR’s housing growth will belong to its outer zones. For homebuyers and investors alike, the city’s edge is now the new center.
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