Delhi is widening the statutory framework for slum rehabilitation, bringing settlements established up to January 1, 2025, within the eligibility window for redevelopment and housing support. The move could significantly expand the number of households covered by rehabilitation programmes, but its success will depend on accurate surveys, land availability and the delivery of housing with essential urban services.
The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) amendment changes the cut-off used to identify eligible jhuggi-jhopri clusters. The earlier statutory benchmark was January 1, 2006, while the 2026 policy framework had already moved rehabilitation eligibility to January 1, 2025. The legislative change is intended to align the legal framework with the newer rehabilitation approach. The policy shift has potentially significant social and urban implications. Delhi’s existing informal settlements house a large population that often depends on nearby employment, public transport and established social networks. Moving residents to distant locations can increase travel costs and disrupt access to jobs, schools and healthcare. This makes in-situ or near-site rehabilitation an important consideration in future housing planning. Government estimates released in June indicated that the revised eligibility framework could cover around four to five lakh families, representing nearly 20 lakh people. The proposed rehabilitation model includes multi-storey housing alongside facilities such as schools, healthcare services, Anganwadi centres and playgrounds.
However, the scale of the task remains difficult to quantify. DUSIB’s own information notes that there has been no recent authenticated door-to-door survey capable of establishing the current slum population. The department currently cites estimates rather than a comprehensive verified count. That data gap is important because eligibility, land requirements and construction planning will depend on identifying settlements and households accurately. A transparent survey process will also be necessary to reduce disputes over beneficiary lists and ensure that vulnerable households are not excluded. From an urban infrastructure perspective, simply replacing informal structures with formal flats will not resolve the underlying housing challenge. New neighbourhoods need dependable water supply, sanitation, drainage, electricity, waste management, public transport and social infrastructure. Climate resilience should also be considered, particularly as heat, flooding and poor air quality increasingly affect Delhi’s vulnerable communities.
The expansion of Delhi slum rehabilitation therefore represents more than a change in eligibility. It creates a larger housing-planning challenge for the capital, requiring coordinated land, infrastructure and social-service delivery. The next critical steps will be the survey, beneficiary verification, project planning and implementation framework. For Delhi slum rehabilitation to deliver lasting urban benefits, the emphasis will need to remain on secure housing, proximity to livelihoods and neighbourhoods that are serviced, accessible and resilient rather than housing supply alone.
