Explained: Center’s big decision on 1,511 colonies in Delhi! What will 10 lakh families get, why will many people be left out?

The Central Government has taken a big decision to regularize 1,511 illegal colonies of Delhi, which will be applicable in 13 districts of Delhi. There are a total of 1,731 illegal colonies in Delhi, out of which 1,511 will be regularized ‘as-is, where-is’. Now the question is whether the Central Government is going to change the face of Delhi and what will be the impact of this? You will know in the explainer…

Question 1: What is the plan to legalize 1,511 illegal colonies in Delhi?
answer: Of the total 1,731 illegal colonies in Delhi, 1,511 will be legal, while the remaining 220 colonies in the forest, ridge, Yamuna floodplain, near the monument or in I-income areas have been kept out of the plan. This decision will benefit about 10 lakh families living in 1,511 colonies. However, only houses built or purchased before June 1, 2014 will be eligible for this. Now these houses will become completely legal. There will be no need to make any new layout plan. The Revenue Department will issue an authorization slip or conveyance deed, which will be the legal ownership document.

Question 2: What benefits will the common man get if illegal colonies are regularized?
answer: There will be 7 big benefits from this decision:

1. You will get full legal ownership rights on the house.
2. Buying and selling a house, taking bank loan, registry and building plans will become easier.
3. The uncertainty that has been going on for decades will end.
4. MCD will now be able to create civic facilities like roads, water, electricity, sewer, parks in these areas.
5. The land use of the plot will be considered residential.
6. Convenience shop up to 20 square meters will also be legal, but the road should not be less than 6 meters wide.
7. PM-UDAY Property Card, Authorization Slip and Conveyance Deed will be available.

This is a big relief of ‘legal ownership’ for millions of middle and lower-middle class families.

Question 3: How will the entire regularization process work step-by-step?
answer: The entire work will be 100% digital and transparent. Three portals will be interconnected – MCD SWAGAM, PM-UDAY and NGDRS…

• Visit MCD SWAGAM portal mcdonline.nic.in or Swagam App.
• Login with old PM-UDAY ID.
• If you do not have PM-UDAY card, then first go to PM-UDAY portal and apply and get the card made.
• Apply for an authorization slip or conveyance deed. Fill the property details, upload old documents i.e. purchase bill, electricity bill, photo etc.
• The application will automatically go to the NGDRS portal. Property registry will be completed here.

The entire process should be completed within 45 days of application.

Question 4: What preparations are going on to implement the plan on the ground?
answer: To implement this plan:

• 13 district-level teams: A team will be formed in every district. The head of the team will be ADM. There will be 6 members in each team.
• Role of Revenue Department: Preparing Standing Operation Procedure (SOP). The role of Revenue and MCD will be clear in the SOP. After the SOP is prepared, LG’s approval will be taken and then the work will start.
• Monitoring: The Revenue Department will keep an eye on the entire plan.
• MCD’s new plan: Even after being regular, there will be an AI drone survey every two months to stop new illegal buildings. New constructions will be detected and MCD will take action.

Question 5: Will this decision of the Central Government change the face of Delhi?
answer: Delhi government has set aside Rs 800 crore for these colonies in the 2026-27 budget. Because of this, it would not be wrong to say that the face of Delhi will be transformed. From this:

• economic boom: Property value will increase. People will invest in houses, business of local contractors, building material and renovation will increase. Real estate liquidity will increase.
• Civic Facilities: Earlier MCD stood with folded hands because the colonies were illegal. Now these will be included in formal planning. Roads will be wide, drainage, water and electricity will be better.
• People’s life: 45 lakh people will be free from decades of uncertainty. Shops of small traders up to 20 square meters will also become regular. You will get respect and security.
• City photo: These colonies constitute a large part of the population of Delhi. With their formalization, a large part of the city will become ‘official’. Combined with Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy, housing and traffic problems will also be affected.

Experts are saying that this can bring a ‘big change in urban governance’ and will give a boost to the property market.