Delhi Set to Revive 52,000 Vacant Flats for Slum Rehabilitation | Urban Housing News

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In a decisive step towards inclusive urban development, the Delhi government has announced a large-scale plan to renovate and reallocate over 52,000 abandoned residential units to families currently living in slums. Originally built under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) more than a decade ago, these flats have remained largely unoccupied due to incomplete infrastructure and prolonged administrative delays.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), is backed by a ₹700 crore fund aimed at transforming these deteriorating structures into livable homes. The move is expected to offer permanent housing to thousands of urban poor families while simultaneously restoring large swathes of idle public infrastructure across the capital.

Inside the Architecture of the Project

The flats follow a compact, utilitarian design intended for economically weaker sections. Each unit features a bedroom-cum-hall, a kitchen, and a bathroom, with four units per floor in four-storey walk-up buildings. The original blueprint envisioned 52,584 units across 14 sites in Delhi. However, only about 4,800 units—less than 10%—were ever allotted before the projects stalled. Now, the government plans to restart work at scale, including:

• Structural rehabilitation and safety inspections

• Installation of water supply and sanitation infrastructure

• Development of access roads, drainage systems, and internal lanes

• Creation of community amenities such as parks and public toilets

Key Sites Under Revitalization

The resettlement housing is distributed across several prominent locations, including:

• Bhalswa – Approx. 7,400 flats

• Savda Ghevra – Approx. 7,620 flats

• Sultanpuri (A-3 Block) – Approx. 1,180 flats

• Dwarka Sector-16B (Site-II) – Approx. 736 flats

These sites, long marred by vandalism, decay, and encroachment, will undergo phased redevelopment and be handed over for occupation upon completion.

Snapshots from the Ground

Below are visual glimpses of the current condition of some key project sites:

Bhalswa Resettlement Flats

Savda Ghevra Housing Complex

General Condition of JNNURM Sites

A New Model for Urban Infill and Equity

Urban planning experts view this as a textbook case of infill development, where existing but underutilized housing stock is rehabilitated to prevent further urban sprawl and reduce pressure on basic infrastructure. The project also represents a move towards in-situ rehabilitation, allowing slum-dwellers to be resettled close to their existing communities and employment hubs.

If successfully implemented, Delhi’s housing revamp could serve as a blueprint for cities across India grappling with similar challenges—reviving failed infrastructure investments and delivering social justice through housing.

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