To build Delhi’s future, learn from past missteps

In 1997, Delhi’s third Master Plan was implemented, at a time when the city’s population was around 14 million, Gurugram and Noida were nascent suburbs, the capital’s Metro system was in its infancy, and a CNG policy aimed at reducing air pollution was introduced. Since then, an additional 10 million residents have called Delhi home, placing immense strain on the civic infrastructure of neighboring cities.

While air quality in Delhi showed signs of improvement throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, a persistent pollution crisis has now emerged. Acknowledging these challenges, Delhi’s fourth Master Plan, recently approved, emphasizes expanding public transport, ecological restoration, redevelopment, affordable housing, and mixed land use.

One of the plan’s key strengths is its recognition that expanding outward is not the only solution for building Delhi. Given the limited land available within the National Capital Territory, better use of existing urban land will be crucial. The proposed increase in housing supply, aiming for around 40 lakh new homes by 2047 at affordable rates, and the allowance for higher densities through more flexible development norms, are significant steps forward.

The plan also acknowledges the impracticality of rigidly separating residential and commercial areas. If successfully executed, these measures could alleviate long-standing traffic congestion and enhance air quality. By promoting mixed land use, environmentally friendly transportation, the redevelopment and preservation of green spaces, and a greater focus on the city’s water bodies, Delhi can improve its ecological health and overall well-being for its residents.

However, none of these positive developments can succeed without addressing the city’s ongoing governance issues: municipal inefficiency and the lack of coordination among civic agencies, both at the center and state levels. These weaknesses have been the primary hindrances in realizing the previous Master Plan’s vision of a more sustainable city.

Over the past 25 years, research on pollution, Yamuna restoration, waste management, urban flooding, and transport development has underscored the need for coordinated efforts among different departments. For example, Metro expansion works best when bus routes, last-mile connectivity, parking regulations, and pedestrian facilities are strategically designed to complement it.

Land-use planning and infrastructure development cannot be separated from the requirements for preventing waterlogging, while building approvals, fire safety, and emergency response necessitate effective communication among construction, fire, and municipal authorities. Repeated fires, building collapses, and the strain on the city’s infrastructure during heavy rainfall have highlighted the risks associated with fragmented and overlapping responsibilities among these agencies.

Despite having a blueprint for enhancing liveability, Delhi must learn from its past failures to turn this blueprint into reality.