New Delhi: To make sure that money paid for public utilities is used only for the dedicated purpose, the Master Plan for Delhi 2047 has provided a ring-fenced mechanism to manage development charges through an escrow account in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects.This means that when a developer pays money to build roads, for example, the money can only be used for this purpose.Giving clarity on concerns raised by experts that relaxed development norms—including smaller plots for vertical development and higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR)—could put additional pressure on utility services, DDA vice chairperson N Saravana Kumar said there is a clear provision for an escrow account under the DDA’s TOD policy.“This system ensures that funds collected from private developers are utilised directly for localised urban transformation, such as augmenting water supply, drainage systems and roads, rather than being absorbed into standard municipal budgets. Funds held in this escrow account cannot be diverted for unrelated city expenses,” he said.Kumar said seven developers, including public and private entities, have already expressed interest and submitted applications for permission for TOD projects. “The projects will be placed before the TOD committee for discussion Thursday. Once the committee grants necessary approvals, the DDA will collect and deposit these specific infrastructure levies directly into a dedicated escrow account,” he said.Several residents have questioned the lack of basic services in areas developed under MPD 2021. Parts of Vasant Kunj, Dwarka and Narela, for instance, still lack adequate water supply.Talking about allowing recreational activity on part of the periphery of the floodplain, Kumar said that in case some parts of the land are privately-owned, they can also develop the land for recreational use like green areas and parks.“Only this activity, along with public utilities such as power sub-stations, will be allowed in this area. No activity is allowed on the section of floodplain adjacent to the river,” he said.Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu said the master plan is a visionary document aimed at improving the city. “While MPD has given policies and development norms, it is still a work in progress. We will face hiccups and barriers during implementation, which is why we are holding discussions from Sept 1 onwards and inviting suggestions as well. Those found valuable in our meetings can be considered for inclusion in MPD,” he said. Addressing concerns regarding problems in the past, he said, “We can’t say that because something didn’t work in the past, we shouldn’t plan for the future.”The vice chairman said that the MPD 2047 is different from MPD 2021 as conscious efforts have been made to make it implementation centric. “In land pooling areas and high-density and low-density areas, it has been clarified that DDA will approve road infrastructure within three months, approve layout plans and collect charges,” Saravana said.He said DDA will ensure that regulations required for smooth implementation of policies, particularly land pooling, are put in place within the next two to three months.
