Regularisation push sparks relief in Capital’s unauthorised colonies

The Delhi government’s renewed push to regularise 1,511 of the total 1,731 unauthorised colonies on an “as-is, where-is” basis has sparked hope for better infrastructure, regulated construction, and secure ownership among residents despite gaps in basic services.

The move, announced by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on April 7, relaxes norms such as layout plan approvals, a major hurdle in the 2019 PM-UDAY policy. Residents can apply for regularisation certificates from April 24 after securing ownership documents, making nearly 45 lakh people eligible to redevelop properties, access loans, and seek building approvals.