Delhi Government Starts Redevelopment Plan for 17 Slum Clusters Across Three Areas

The Delhi government has started the process to redevelop 17 slum settlements in Seelampur, Sultanpuri and Lajpat Nagar under its new slum rehabilitation policy. These locations currently hold a total of 4,870 shanties, which the administration plans to replace with three tall residential colonies.

Project Plan

Under the Delhi Slum and Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy of 2026, private builders will construct proper housing for eligible residents. In return, these companies will get development rights over valuable commercial parts of the land. This setup uses a Public-Private Partnership model. It shifts away from the 2015 policy where the government acted as the main builder.

Feasibility Study

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board will hire a private agency to study if the project is workable at all three sites. This agency will create early plans for high-rise residential buildings. These plans will list estimated construction costs, total land area, permissible floor space, ground coverage, flat counts, floors, parking spaces, and other facilities. Bids are already invited for transaction advisors, and the study will finish in four months.

Cluster Details

The 17 settlements include 1,243 shanties across four spots in Seelampur, 1,997 shanties across nine spots in Sultanpuri, and the remaining clusters in Lajpat Nagar. Notable sites include a 24,900 square metre area along Brahmpuri Road in New Seelampur and the Jal Vihar settlement in Lajpat Nagar with 526 shanties. Past projects of this kind include the redevelopment of Kathputli, Kalkaji, and Ashok Vihar.

Context

Slum rehabilitation projects in growing urban areas often use commercial land rights to attract private investment and lower public spending costs. High-rise construction allows dense settlements to be cleared and replaced with multi-story housing on smaller footprints, freeing up land for other uses.