Delhi 2047 Plan: 40 Lakh New Homes, 695-Km Metro

Delhi’s urban landscape is set for a comprehensive transformation under a new master plan notified by the central government, aiming to address chronic housing shortages and strained infrastructure for the next two decades. The Master Plan for Delhi 2047, officially unveiled on August 20, 2026, targets the construction of approximately 40 lakh new housing units, with a primary focus on affordable options, alongside a major expansion of public transport and the regeneration of existing neighborhoods.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar presented the 535-page plan alongside Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu. He outlined the core challenge driving the plan: Delhi’s population has surged from 9.4 million in 1991 to an estimated 24 million in 2026, and is projected to reach 32 million by 2047. “Because the city’s total land area remains fixed at 1,483 square kilometres, this surging population creates immense spatial and infrastructural pressure,” Khattar stated, reinforcing the need for structured growth.

To accommodate the expected increase of 8 million people and the trend toward smaller, nuclear families, the...