New Delhi: Expanding the scope for affordable housing in the national capital, the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) on Tuesday issued a gazette notification detailing the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Regulations and Charges, 2026. Under the new policy, TOD charges have been fixed at a uniform rate of Rs 10,000 per sq.m., irrespective of locality.The move comes in the backdrop of recent changes approved by Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which reduced the minimum plot size for TOD projects from 10,000 sq.m. to 2,000 sq.m. The permissible floor area ratio (FAR) has been increased to 400, with a provision to extend it up to 500 on payment of additional charges.The policy mandates that at least 65% of total FAR be allocated to residential units of up to 100 sq.m. A minimum 10% must be reserved for commercial and community facilities while the remaining 25% can be used for larger housing units, offices, guest houses and studio apartments.At a press conference, Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the new policy will accelerate TOD implementation in Delhi. “It promotes sustainable mobility and optimized land use through compact, mixed-use development by leveraging public transit infrastructure,” he added.DDA vice-chairman N Saravana Kumar said the previous policy required a minimum plot area of one hectare for TOD development, and a maximum FAR of up to 500 was allowed on plots of at least four hectares located on 30-metre-wide roads. “As a result, only a few projects at Sarai Kale Khan and Jaitpur were sanctioned. Now, more private entities can undertake mixed-use development,” he said.Significantly, land pooling zones, low-density residential areas and unauthorized colonies — all previously excluded — have been brought under the TOD framework, provided the plot size is at least 2,000 sqm and located on roads at least 18 meters wide. The policy covers plots within a 500-metre radius of regional and interstate transit stations like Namo Bharat as well as railway stations. It also covers plots 500 meters on either side of metro corridors.The changes are expected to open up 207 sq km for planned development and redevelopment. Officials said nearly 21,000 hectares along Delhi Metro corridors will fall under TOD. Redevelopment of even 20% of this could unlock significant economic activity.To enhance walkability, the policy includes underground or elevated pedestrian walkways connecting TOD plots to transit stations.Eligible plots will be designated ‘TOD plots’, eliminating the need for land-use change approvals. Developers will pay TOD-related charges distributed among agencies like DDA, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for infrastructure augmentation.For base FAR of 400, charges will be paid to DDA at the uniform rate, while additional charges will apply for FAR between 400 and 500. The collected funds will be placed in a dedicated escrow account. “The TOD fund will be ring-fenced and used exclusively for area improvement and infrastructure augmentation within the same locality,” Kumar said.Charges will be deposited at the time of submission of TOD schemes through MCD’s online building plan approval system. These include Rs 3,000 towards water and sewer infrastructure (DJB), Rs 3,000 towards plan sanction and approvals (MCD), Rs 1,500 towards conversion charges (DDA) and Rs 2,500 towards infrastructure development under the urban development fund. No separate fee will be charged for leasehold-to-freehold conversion.In cases of plot consolidation, leasehold parcels must clear all pending dues, including ground rent and penalties, and be free from encumbrances such as loans or litigation before availing TOD benefits. TOD charges may be revised periodically and will remain applicable until further orders by MoHUA, the notification states.“A committee chaired by the DDA VC, comprising officials from stakeholder agencies, will ensure seamless approvals. Applicants can apply at a single point, and approvals will be granted within seven days,” Kumar said.CM Rekha Gupta said the move will make a larger number of plots eligible for redevelopment and accelerate TOD-based projects at a time when housing demand is rising.
