Delhi slum clusters to be redeveloped soon: Union Minister
The Delhi government's Delhi Slum and Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, includes in-situ rehabilitation or development of alternate housing within 5km.
Indicating that a rehabilitation plan for the slum clusters in Delhi has gathered pace, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal has said the Capital’s jhuggi jhopri (JJ) colonies would be redeveloped in-situ or within 5 km of their location.
The Minister’s remarks, which came during his address at real estate industry body NAREDCO’s conference on Saturday where he listed out the challenges facing the sector — including those related to land, affordable housing and slum clusters — come on the heels of the BJP government completing a year in the Capital. The party will complete a year in office on February 20 — it came to power in Delhi after sweeping the 2025 Assembly polls following a gap of nearly 27 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi – at his maiden poll rally in the Capital in the run up to the Delhi Assembly elections on January 3 last year — had inaugurated 1,675 ‘Swabhiman Apartments’ in Northwest Delhi’s Ashok Vihar, asserting that the homes represent the “self-respect, self-esteem and new aspirations and dreams” of the owners. Promising the construction of 3,000 similar homes across Delhi, PM Modi had added that ensuring a pucca roof over every citizen’s head was one of the priorities of his government.
Referring to the Land and Development Office (L&DO) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which work under his Ministry, the Union Minister on Saturday said, “There are about 750 jhuggi jhopri colonies in Delhi. To redevelop them — as me and the Home Minister, we all sat in those meetings… and held discussions over the past three months — L&DO and DDA will very soon take the land and settle them in-situ or within 5km.”
While the Minister did not elaborate on the plan, a statement by NAREDCO said: “The Minister also indicated that close to 700- 750 slum settlements in and around NCT [National Capital Territory] would be developed by the government for which policy framework is being deliberated upon various stakeholders within the various authorities of the government at a very high level. With the take-off this proposal affordable housing would attain a required fillip in and around the NCT.”
There are 675 slums in the Capital under the Delhi government’s Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). Of these, 376 are on government land and come under the DDA jurisdiction, while 299 come under DUSIB’s jurisdiction. The DDA’s 2007 slum rehabilitation policy provides covers public private partnerships in redevelopment of slums, but the implementation has been slow. DDA had floated a tender in 2022 for six such projects, but found no takers.
The Delhi government’s Delhi Slum and Jhuggi Jhopri Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015, includes in-situ rehabilitation or development of alternate housing within 5km.
According to sources, previous attempts in this direction failed due to lack of viability gap funding for the projects with the last unsuccessful tender aimed at the in-situ rehabilitation of such clusters in Delhi floated in 2022.
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The Union Minister’s remarks, according to a government source, underscored that the BJP government was “prepared to deliver” on PM Modi’s promise “soon”. “Several rounds of discussion have taken place regarding giving more speed to the process of in-situ rehabilitation across the city at the highest levels between the Centre and the Delhi government. A fresh tender is likely to be floated soon after a few loose ends are tied up,” a senior government official said.
“Many approaches are on the table, including allowing the in-situ rehabilitation of small clusters of adjacent slums to be taken up by successful bidders; the aim is to ensure the wholesome development of such areas along the lines of areas such as Lajpat Nagar, for instance, allowing mixed land use including residential and commercial units,” the official added.
Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission.
Expertise
Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats:
Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues.
Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections.
Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production.
Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included:
Culture
Social Justice
Housing and Urban Affairs
The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus).
Trustworthiness
Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More
Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 16 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism.
Expertise
High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including:
The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls.
National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus.
Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities.
National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements.
Academic Credentials:
Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions.
Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read More