Delhi’s expanding mass-transit network is set to play a larger role in shaping how the city grows. Delhi Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy introduces a corridor-based development model around Metro and RRTS infrastructure, bringing high-density, mixed-use planning closer to public transport. The policy covers about 207 sq km within designated transit zones and seeks to support planned urban growth and affordable housing. By opening previously excluded areas to TOD provisions and allowing higher development potential on qualifying plots, the policy is expected to reshape residential, commercial and public-space planning along major transit corridors.
The new policy builds on the Transit Oriented Development approach outlined in the Master Plan of Delhi 2021. Instead of concentrating development around individually designated TOD nodes, the framework applies to defined areas along existing mass-transit infrastructure. The policy covers land within 500 metres on either side of Metro corridors, along with a 500-metre radius around RRTS and railway stations.
The Delhi TOD policy also supports better physical connections between developments and transit infrastructure. New underground or elevated pedestrian walkways can link qualifying TOD plots with Metro and other transit stations. Public and semi-public plots within TOD areas can also receive enhanced FAR upgrade provisions, creating additional development opportunities around important transport locations.
By extending TOD provisions across transit corridors, the policy creates a more integrated relationship between housing, workplaces, commercial activity and public transport. The inclusion of previously excluded land categories also expands the areas that can participate in transit-linked development. Higher development potential around major transport corridors can support compact urban growth while placing more housing and everyday services closer to mass-transit networks.
Delhi’s new TOD framework marks a broader approach to planning around the city’s mass-transit network. By replacing the earlier node-based model with corridor-based provisions, expanding the covered area and enabling higher development potential on qualifying plots, the policy places public transport at the centre of future urban growth. Its emphasis on residential development, mixed-use activity and pedestrian connections can help create more integrated neighbourhoods. The long-term impact will depend on how effectively the provisions are implemented across the identified corridors.
