Delhi's New Master Plan Aims to Revitalize Old Buildings

Delhi's newly introduced Master Plan aims to revitalize outdated buildings by incentivizing owners through an increased Floor Area Ratio. The plan addresses safety issues following recent building collapses and promotes extensive housing development near metro lines. It also adopts a 'sponge cities' strategy to manage rainwater effectively, reducing instances of waterlogging in urban areas. The previous draft of the Master Plan failed to meet these objectives, but the new version has incorporated these changes. According to the plan, owners of old buildings will be allowed to increase the Floor Area Ratio, making it easier to redevelop these structures. This move is expected to boost housing development in the city, particularly near metro lines. The plan also focuses on rainwater management, aiming to reduce waterlogging in urban areas. The 'sponge cities' strategy involves creating infrastructure that can absorb and store rainwater, reducing the burden on the city's drainage system.