Delhi to regularise 1,511 unauthorised colonies on ‘as-is where-is’ basis: What this means for residents

A landmark decision has been taken by the Government of Delhi, wherein they have declared that 1,511 unauthorised colonies will now be regularised under the “as-is where-is” policy, benefitting nearly 45 lakh people legally. The announcement was made by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, and Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, highlighting a major step forward under the PM-UDAY scheme.

What This Means for Residents

Manohar Lal said during a press conference that this initiative marks a significant milestone for Delhi residents. “With this decision, residents will be encouraged to register their properties, ensuring legal ownership and enabling construction or redevelopment in line with MCD norms,” he stated. The Minister added that these steps have been taken under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and signal a new phase of planned and inclusive urban development in the city.

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The Delhi CM noted that the PM-UDAY scheme, launched in 2019, addressed long-standing concerns of residents who, despite living in their own homes, lacked legal ownership rights. She said, “Today, the regularisation of 1,511 out of 1,731 unauthorised colonies marks a new chapter of relief, dignity, and rights for 45 lakh people of Delhi.”

Application Process and Timeline

Applications will be accepted via the MCD SWAGAM portal (https://mcdonline.nic.in/swagam) starting April 24, 2026, for residents who have already received Conveyance Deeds (CD) or Authorisation Slips (AS) under PM-UDAY. The process will include a GIS survey within 7 days, rectification of application deficiencies within 15 days, and issuance of conveyance deeds within 45 days.

The online application process allows residents to log in, select their colony, and provide their PM-UDAY Case ID to open the application form. Eligible cases will be processed by the Revenue Department, GNCTD, with support from DDA, and the issued CD/AS will be routed to MCD via the portal.

Key Provisions of Regularisation

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has outlined several provisions for regularisation:

• All plots and buildings in eligible colonies will be treated as residential.
• Convenience shops up to 20 sq. metres will be regularised if accessible via a 6-metre right of way; smaller shops may require less.
• Existing structures will be regularised on an “as-is where-is” basis, without the need for approved layout plans.
• MCD/local bodies will issue Certificates of Regularisation, survey vacant plots, and develop civic infrastructure.
• The Revenue Department, GNCTD, will issue Conveyance Deeds / Authorisation Slips to eligible residents.

For reconstruction or redevelopment, residents must surrender land equivalent to 50 per cent of deficiencies in road access, with FAR calculated on the original plot area. Penal charges will apply if existing FAR exceeds permissible limits. Layout plans will be prepared using satellite imagery by a combined DDA-MCD-GNCTD cell.

About PM-UDAY scheme

The PM-UDAY scheme, launched on October 29, 2019, was designed to confer ownership, transfer, and mortgage rights to residents of unauthorised colonies. Of 1,731 colonies, 1,511 have now been deemed eligible for regularisation, while exclusions include colonies on protected lands such as forests, monuments, flood plains, and high-tension line corridors.

By March 31, 2026, a total of 40,000 Conveyance Deeds/Authorisation Slips have been issued. This new ruling is set to solve problems related to getting approvals for building plans because there were no approved layouts available.

This means that with the latest change, Delhi has moved from the existing ownership model to one that includes both property rights and regularisation of the same.