Delhi's Rural And Urban Villages To Get A New Life

With many migrating to the national capital regularly for better job and business opportunities, housing has become a major concern here. To cater to the growing demand for housing as well as infrastructure to hold the rising population, the state government has formed the Delhi Village Development Board (DVDB) that would look after the civic amenities in the urban and rural villages of Delhi. Earlier, the Delhi Rural Development Board was responsible for the infrastructural advancement in Delhi's rural areas. However, the jurisdiction was limited to only a few localities. The formation of the new board would facilitate development work in urban villages as well.

Functioning of DVDB

The development board will be responsible for the construction of approach roads, link roads, village roads, development of water bodies, recreational areas, parks and other facilities in rural and urban villages of Delhi. The board will further have village development committees that will carry out surveys in the villages for assessment of facilities available and required. This drive will help the board to prioritise development work in different areas.

Rural and urban villages in Delhi

Currently, there are 300 urban and rural villages in Delhi that would come under the purview of DVDB. Earlier in 2017, around 89 villages were declared urban to ease the land pooling in the city, allowing authorities to claim land for infrastructural development and construction of more housing units. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is responsible for developing public infrastructure like roads on the pooled land and return a substantial portion of the plot to the owner. The returned portion will have its value appreciated given the development of infrastructure nearby.

Real estate in Delhi villages

The fall in availability of property and skyrocketing property prices, the villages of Delhi are becoming a popular option for those looking for affordable apartments. While rural villages are equipped with just the basic facilities, urban villages offer economic opportunities, infrastructure but are suffering unauthorised construction.

Areas like Civil Lines, Najafgarh, Narela, Rohini, Shahdara and south of Delhi have a number of rural villages with a population of more than 1,000. This includes developed neighbourhood of Aya Nagar, Burari, Chattarpur, Ghitorni, Hari Nagar, Kondli and Sultanpur. The housing type here is limited to independent row houses and builder floors. So far, only East Delhi Municipal Corporation has announced regularisation of unauthorised construction built before April 1, 2017. As soon as other authorities will announce the process, the prices are expected to witness a rise in these areas.

How is rural village is converted into a developed area

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) notifies a list of areas to be acquired publically. After the notification, the DDA supersedes Panchayats and acquires the land for the development work. The MCD ensures that once the development work is complete, the urban village is transferred to the DDA for maintenance and upkeep.

Majority of the speculative development and artificial price rise happens during this transformation which takes 15-20 years. Lack of land-use regulations gives birth to several illegal colonies.