Delhi government has drawn up an ambitious master plan which promises to make the national capital “more liveable”. The Delhi Master Plan will cater to the housing and mobility needs of a projected population of 3.2 crore in the next two decades. In housing, 40 lakh new housing units would be added, and in mobility, 695 kilometres would be added to its Metro rail network. Transformation of a city with a chequered history and numerous heritage buildings is going to be a formidable challenge. Also, the choice of architecture and aesthetics is critical. The new Parliament building was criticised by many experts for its poor aesthetic sensibility. The planners should tread carefully when it comes to creating the futuristic modern city.
Firstly, the Master Plan 2047 envisages a vertical city with a skyline crowded with skyscrapers. There are several decades-old government residential colonies, ageing residential and commercial complexes across neighbourhoods, especially those surrounding Lutyens’ Delhi, which will get an opportunity to be developed or rebuilt into modern high-rise buildings, predominantly residential units. Besides the above brownfield projects, there will be several greenfield housing projects on the outskirts where large tracts of land are available for development.
For the brownfield projects, the focus will be on Transit Oriented Development, mixed-use development and infrastructure augmentation. Put simply, the sprawling city will have compact residential and commercial spaces (mixed-use) connected to high-capacity, integrated public transportation hubs. People living in these areas could reach the hubs on foot. These greenfield projects will adopt the Right-of-Way approach and land-pooling framework. Both housing and transport infrastructure complement each other and are built in a planned manner. While the brownfield projects allow for more living space, wider roads and better civic amenities, the greenfield projects offer a spacious and open suburban life but with shorter commutes due to access to high-speed transport networks.
A city is not defined by its physical infrastructure – the concrete and steel buildings. Its character comes from the quality of life it offers and the vibrant lifestyle it enables. The Master Plan aspires to turn the metropolis into a 24-hour-city that never sleeps. Once again, given the longstanding concerns over the safety of citizens, especially women, it is not going to be easy. Changing cultural values and mindsets of people can be more difficult than building spanking new physical infrastructure.
From an environmental perspective, the big question is how the city would manage its notorious air pollution crisis, as construction work is one of the culprits that worsen the air quality with the vast amounts of coarse dust it generates. The other nagging issue is the Yamuna river restoration. The Master Plan does have a blueprint for its rejuvenation, but it will be met with multiple challenges.
In recent times, the BJP governments in Delhi and at the Centre have been suffering from a credibility crisis over efficient and effective execution of projects and delivering visible and tangible results. For instance, the Delhi government’s shoddy implementation of Yamuna river clean-up and air pollution campaigns had become a butt of jokes and mocking memes.
Governments should be aware of the magnitude of the project and its lasting urban legacy. Wide-ranging consultations and a collaborative and consensual (bipartisan) approach will lend stability and continuity and help ensure better implementation of the multi-decade transformational master plan.