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The National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board is expected to approve the Regional Plan 2041 at its meeting on June 16. The new plan aims to improve urban development and transportation across the NCR by proposing the creation of five to eight new greenfield townships and introducing a "30-minute NCR" connectivity vision.
National Capital Region's New Plan
According to the proposal, new townships will be developed in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan to help reduce population pressure on Delhi. Along with building entirely new cities, the plan also focuses on redeveloping existing urban areas. This dual approach is intended to encourage balanced growth across the region and reduce congestion in the national capital.
How will the 30-Minute NCR Plan Benefit the Region?
The proposed townships will be developed along important economic and transport corridors. They are expected to have modern civic infrastructure and smart-city features similar to those found in the Aurangabad Industrial City (Auric) in Maharashtra. These new urban centres will function as self-sufficient smart townships, providing housing, jobs, and public services within the same area.
Inclusions of the 30-Minute NCR Plan
The plan also supports ongoing state government initiatives. For example, Uttar Pradesh's proposal to develop the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Area into a greenfield city for around 20 lakh residents has been included. Haryana's plans to create "Panchgrams" around the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway have also been incorporated into the regional strategy.
A major highlight of the plan is its focus on faster connectivity. It aims to make travel between Delhi and major NCR cities possible within 30 minutes through superfast trains and heli-taxi services. Other rail journeys within the NCR should take no more than one hour, while road travel should be limited to two to three hours. To achieve this, the plan proposes studying the feasibility of a high-speed, limited-stop mass transit rail network connecting Delhi with the surrounding NCR areas.
The plan also addresses housing needs by encouraging institutions across the NCR to build residential facilities such as apartments, hostels, and transit accommodation for employees and students. Up to 15-20 percent of institutional land may be used for such housing developments.