Delhi Slum Dwellers Directed to Vacate for Rehabilitation at Savda Ghevra by March 2026
The Central government has issued a directive to residents of three slum clusters located adjacent to the Delhi Race Club and the Prime Minister's residence, instructing them to vacate their current premises by March 6, 2026. This move is part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, with residents required to take possession of flats allotted to them at the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) Colony in Savda Ghevra.
Rehabilitation Plan and Official Notices
According to a top official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, all eligible residents will be properly rehabilitated under this initiative. The DUSIB Colony at Savda Ghevra is situated on the northwestern outskirts of Delhi, near the Tikri border, providing an alternative housing solution for the affected families.
Notices issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the housing ministry on Thursday state that, following a direction from the Delhi High Court, the government has confirmed the provision of alternate houses at Savda Ghevra. Officials have reported that a total of 717 flats have been allotted to the residents of these colonies.
The L&DO notices explicitly direct residents: "You are directed to take immediate possession of the allotted flat at Savda Ghevra and compulsorily vacate the possession of the current premises by March 6, 2026. Failure to vacate the current premises, legal procedures will be followed to carry out eviction."
Background and Legal Context
These slum clusters had developed on L&DO land, and vacating the three colonies is expected to open up a significant tract of land in the high-security zone for future development. The issuance of L&DO notices comes shortly after Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal announced that the Centre is working on a plan to build proper houses for people living in nearly 700 slum clusters. This plan involves either redevelopment at existing locations or providing houses within a 5-kilometer radius of their current homes.
In the notices, the ministry detailed that in January 2024, L&DO and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) conducted a joint survey to identify residents as per the DUSIB policy for slum dweller rehabilitation. The final list has been finalized, leading to the government's decision to offer alternate housing at Savda Ghevra.
Earlier, on October 29, 2025, notices for rehabilitation and eviction were issued, informing residents about their allotments and advising them to vacate to facilitate relocation. However, the matter was challenged in the Delhi High Court. In its November 13 order, the court directed the ministry not to proceed with evictions "without adhering to the procedural safeguards," and the case has been scheduled for a hearing on May 13.
Resident Reactions and Future Implications
While some residents have expressed acceptance of the situation, viewing the shift to pucca houses as an end to years of uncertainty, others remain skeptical. One resident voiced concerns, stating, "We believed the government's promise of 'jahan jhuggie wahan makan' (in-situ redevelopment), but now it's turning out to be jahan jhuggi wahan maidan (slums paving way for open fields)."
This rehabilitation effort highlights the ongoing challenges in urban development and housing policies in Delhi, balancing the needs of slum dwellers with land utilization in strategic areas.
