DDA approves Environment and Transport chapters for MPD 2021

The DDA today approved the 'Environment and Transport' chapters of Master Plan for Delhi 2021 which includes transit-oriented development that seeks reduction in road congestion through less dependence on private vehicles and more on improved public transport system.
The revised Environment chapter envisages creation of a sustainable physical and social environment for improving quality of life as major objectives of the Master Plan for Delhi (MPD) 2021.
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) being the highlight of the Transport chapter will facilitate people to live, work and seek entertainment in a zone that balances commercial and residential areas with an integrated network of smart transport facilities.

"TOD will be applicable within 500m influence zone of the (centre line of) MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) corridors. The norms will facilitate more people to live, work and seek entrainment within walking distance of stations.
"This will also seek to balance/redistribute densities over the city along MRTS corridors," the DDA budget, passed by the Authority today, said.
As per the norm, a maximum FAR (Floor Area Ratio) of 400 and a maximum density of 2,000 persons per hectare (PPH) is permissible for purposes of infrastructure planning, it said.

"Permissibility of mixed-use within all land uses will reduce car-dependency and reduce congestion on roads. It will also allow greater flexibility to the development to adapt to local context and market-based needs," the budget said.

The first TOD project at Karkardooma in east Delhi will be taken up and a memorandum of understanding between DDA and National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) which will be taking up the project on behalf of DDA was also approved in the meeting.
TOD norms allow for mix of incomes within communities with shared public spaces, greens, recreational facilities and amenities which will minimise gentrification and create more community-oriented development, it said.
Among other decisions taken by DDA today was rationalisation of user conversion charges for old markets in Delhi, which will affect around 80 such markets like Sarojini Nagar Market, Khan Market, Green Park Extension, among others.

The Authority in its meeting today approved the conversion charges to be reduced to 25 per cent of the difference between commercial rates and residential rates of the area.
"These charges which were earlier Rs 89,094 per sqm of built-up area will get reduced to Rs 22, 274 per sqm of built-up area," DDA said in a statement.
These shopping-cum-residential area were constructed much before the Master Plan Delhi 1962 by real estate firm DLF.