Key facts
- Delhi-NCR plans to develop up to eight new greenfield townships.
- The goal is to reduce travel time between major NCR cities to 30 minutes.
- The plan is inspired by smart city models and aims for self-contained urban centers.
- An estimated Rs 20 lakh crore investment is required for infrastructure upgrades.
- The plan aims to accommodate over three crore additional residents in the next 15 years.
Delhi-NCR is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan, outlined in the draft Regional Plan 2041, which proposes the development of five to eight new greenfield townships across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. This initiative aims to foster significant growth and reduce pressure on Delhi by creating self-contained urban centers with modern smart civic amenities, inspired by models like Auric, a smart city developed under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.
The plan also prioritizes drastically improving mobility within the region, targeting a 30-minute commute time between Delhi and major NCR cities through high-speed rail and other advanced transit systems. This includes exploring superfast trains, conventional rail, and even heli-taxi services to connect jobs, housing, and services more efficiently.
To support this vision, the draft plan integrates existing state-level projects, such as the Uttar Pradesh government's development of the Yamuna Motorway Industrial Development Area and Haryana's Panchgrams concept. It also encourages institutions to provide residential facilities on their campuses to promote walk-to-work and walk-to-study environments.
The scale of this undertaking is substantial, with projections indicating that Delhi-NCR may need to accommodate over three crore additional residents in the next 15 years. Consequently, the plan estimates an investment requirement exceeding Rs 20 lakh crore for housing, transport, and civic infrastructure upgrades. The draft is slated for discussion at the NCRPB meeting on June 16.