The Delhi Chapter of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, recently hosted its Delhi Members Meet and panel discussion titled “TOD – Changing Delhi’s Skyline” at Shangri-La Eros New Delhi. The event brought together policymakers, urban planners, architects, developers, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the implications of the Delhi TOD Policy 2026 and its potential to reshape the capital through mobility-centric and infrastructure-led urban development.
Key Discussions on Transit-Oriented Development
The discussions focused on how Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) can unlock a new phase of planned urban transformation across Delhi by integrating housing, mobility, commercial development, and public infrastructure around metro and regional transit corridors. Industry experts highlighted that the newly notified policy creates one of the largest urban redevelopment opportunities in Delhi in recent decades, with nearly 207 km of metro-linked corridors and an estimated 30–40 sq km of immediately developable TOD land expected to drive long-term urban regeneration and redevelopment activity.
Address by Anand Kumar, Chairperson, Delhi RERA
The meet featured addresses by distinguished dignitaries including Anand Kumar, Chairperson, Delhi RERA, who shared insights on regulatory reforms, coordinated infrastructure planning, and the importance of creating sustainable, transit-integrated urban ecosystems. The discussions revolved around various factors including standardizing marketing, sale documentation, extensions, and closures. He emphasized that every advertisement or brochure must be factual, carry the RERA registration number plus project weblink, and, if it mentions the area and rate, it must be done only on carpet area basis. He also noted that as per the revised policy, a dedicated clause now prohibits any rebate schemes such as assured returns, guaranteed rentals, advance rent, commitment charges, etc., except for the limited early-payment rebate permitted in the Agreement for Sale Rules.
Panel Discussion on TOD
A key highlight of the evening was the panel discussion on “TOD – Changing Delhi’s Skyline” moderated by Gaurav Jain, MD, Samyak Properties & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. The discussion featured leading industry voices including Harsh Vardhan Bansal, President, NAREDCO Delhi; Gian P Mathur, Managing Director, Gian P Mathur & Associates Pvt. Ltd.; Sheetal Kumar Agrawalla, Managing Director, Galaxy & Sawasdee Group; and Nandni Garg, Director, Rajdarbar Ventures Pvt. Ltd. The panel examined how the Delhi TOD Policy can significantly increase development potential through FAR 400–500 norms, enable higher-density and mixed-use redevelopment around transit corridors, and support the creation of walk-to-transit urban communities integrating residential, commercial, and social infrastructure.
Policy Implementation and Recommendations
Stakeholders discussed how the policy’s single composite TOD charge mechanism, replacing multiple standalone levies, and the provision for 60-day deemed approvals could improve development efficiency and accelerate redevelopment activity across eligible corridors. The deliberations further highlighted the broader market implications of TOD-led development for Delhi NCR. Experts noted that transit-linked redevelopment across central, east, and south Delhi corridors could improve housing supply, strengthen long-term affordability, and reduce pressure on peripheral urban expansion by creating more efficient and connected development within the city itself. Discussions also touched upon the expected impact on neighbouring NCR markets including Gurugram and Noida, particularly in the mid-premium residential segment where buyer preference may increasingly shift toward centrally connected, metro-linked developments.
Implementation-Level Considerations
The session also addressed key implementation-level considerations including land aggregation, financing structures, redevelopment models, parking norms, height restrictions, and inter-agency coordination required for successful TOD execution. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of policy refinements and collaborative implementation to ensure redevelopment viability, financial sustainability, and faster project execution. During the discussions, several policy recommendations and implementation amendments were deliberated upon to strengthen the TOD framework and improve execution efficiency. Key recommendations included replacing the existing ‘100 sqm built-up’ benchmark with ‘100 sqm RERA carpet area’ to reduce project-level litigation, allowing practical 2.5–3 BHK configurations within the affordable housing framework, and enabling tradability of surplus TDR/FAR from height-restricted sites within Delhi.
Critical Amendments Proposed
The deliberations further highlighted additional critical amendments including automatic issuance of formal deemed approval orders within seven working days after the 60-day approval window, locking applicable circle rates at the time of OBPS submission to prevent mid-project financial shocks, and introducing a standardized height-FAR conversion table to remove approval ambiguities in height-restricted zones. Stakeholders also discussed the importance of sustainability-linked incentives through additional FAR benefits for IGBC Gold and GRIHA-rated developments, alongside recommendations for transitional provisions for ongoing projects notified before April 2026 and strict prohibition of project marketing prior to RERA registration, even in deemed approval cases.
Quotes from Key Dignitaries
Anand Kumar, Chairperson, Delhi RERA, said, “Transit-Oriented Development is not only about increasing density around transit corridors. It is about creating more efficient, accessible and future-ready urban ecosystems where planning, infrastructure and housing evolve together. Delhi’s long-term growth will depend on how effectively these elements are integrated through coordinated policy and implementation.” He further added, “The TOD framework has the potential to fundamentally change how Delhi grows over the next decade by aligning urban expansion with mass transit infrastructure. If implemented effectively, it can improve redevelopment viability, reduce infrastructure stress, and create more organized, connected, and sustainable urban districts.” Harsh Vardhan Bansal, President, NAREDCO Delhi, said, “The discussions during the Members Meet reflected the growing importance of integrated and policy-driven urban transformation in Delhi. TOD is becoming central to how the city will accommodate future growth, improve connectivity, and create more efficient urban ecosystems. NAREDCO Delhi will continue to engage with stakeholders to support constructive policy dialogue and implementation.”
