Delhi's New Policy Paves Way For High-Rises. Architects Flag One Big Risk
Delhi is implementing new urban planning policies, including higher Floor Area Ratio limits, to encourage high-rise development. Architects warn that this growth could overwhelm existing civic infrastructure like roads and water supply if not managed with comprehensive planning.
Why it matters
Rapid urbanization in major cities requires a balance between housing supply and infrastructure capacity to prevent long-term urban decay.
Delhi is preparing to build higher than ever before.
A series of planning reforms, including higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) limits and the expansion of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones, have unlocked fresh opportunities for high-rise housing and large-scale redevelopment across the national capital. The changes are expected to reshape neighbourhoods, increase housing supply and make better use of land in a city where developable space is rapidly shrinking.
But architects say the biggest challenge is not how many towers Delhi can build.
It is whether the city's roads, water supply, drainage, public transport and civic infrastructure can keep pace with the wave of new development. Without neighbourhood-level planning, they warn, taller buildings could end up placing even greater pressure on already congested parts of the city.
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