Revised Policy Speeds Up Delhi's 1,511 Unauthorized Colonies

New Delhi's central government announced a revised policy on Tuesday to expedite the regularization of 1,511 unauthorized colonies across the national capital, offering relief to an estimated 4.5 million residents who have long faced uncertainty over property ownership. The update to the Pradhan Mantri Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana, or PM-UDAY, eliminates the previous requirement for approved layout plans and shifts administrative responsibility from the Delhi Development Authority to the city's revenue department.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, joined by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at a press conference in the capital, detailed the changes aimed at streamlining the process. Properties will now be regularized on an "as is where is" basis, treating all plots and buildings in these colonies as residential. This approach accepts existing structures without mandating redesigns, addressing a key bottleneck that had stalled progress since the scheme's launch in October 2019.

Under the new framework, ownership rights can be secured through documents such as general power of attorney, agreements to sell, proof of payment, and...