The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has announced the allocation of two strategic land parcels in Nehru Place and Dwarka for the development of five-star hotels.
The move is intended to attract private investment while creating high-end tourism infrastructure and long-term revenue streams for the capital. The initiative marks a shift in DDA’s asset management strategy, pivoting from conventional land sales to a lease model under a 55-year licence fee arrangement. The two plots—measuring approximately 2.2 acres in Nehru Place and over 2.5 acres in Dwarka Sector 23—are among the most commercially potent parcels in South and West Delhi, respectively. Their current vacant status allows for immediate mobilisation of development, removing a key barrier often seen in urban land projects.
Designed in alignment with Delhi’s Master Plan 2021 and governed by the Unified Building Byelaws 2016, the sites will offer developers significant flexibility within a structured regulatory framework. The Nehru Place plot allows a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 325 with 50 percent ground coverage, while the Dwarka site permits an FAR of 375 with 40 percent coverage. These specifications are calibrated to maximise both commercial potential and urban sustainability, supporting vertical growth without compromising liveability. The DDA’s push to develop luxury hotels in high-footfall, transit-linked zones like Nehru Place—a known commercial and IT hub—and Dwarka—a rapidly emerging sub-city—comes at a time when Delhi is repositioning itself as a global tourism and business destination. The capital city has long grappled with a shortfall in premium hospitality capacity, and these developments could help close that gap, particularly ahead of international events and surging domestic tourism.
Private players vying for the projects will need to conform to the Ministry of Tourism’s star rating norms to ensure consistency with international benchmarks. The Request for Proposal (RFP) process officially opens on May 5, with site visits scheduled through June 18. Queries must be submitted by May 20, and the final bids are due on June 19—an aggressive yet achievable timeline for fast-track implementation. This venture is part of a wider urban rejuvenation and commercial expansion programme by the DDA, which includes a gold souk and hospital in Dwarka, office towers in Rohini, and a multipurpose sports complex in Narela. These initiatives collectively aim to decentralise economic activity, reduce pressure on central business districts, and create a more balanced and inclusive urban fabric.
By enabling luxury hospitality to rise on public land, the DDA is not only unlocking dormant assets but also contributing to the vision of a more sustainable, commercially vibrant, and economically self-reliant Delhi. If implemented with transparency and foresight, these hotel projects could act as urban anchors—serving travellers, boosting employment, and reinforcing Delhi’s position as a dynamic global metropolis.
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