DDA approves Rs 14,962 cr budget, clears key urban reforms
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Friday approved a Rs 14,962 crore budget for 2026-27 and reported a revenue surplus of Rs 2,112 crore in 2025-26 till February 18. The decisions were taken at an Authority meeting chaired by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
This is the third consecutive year that DDA has posted a revenue surplus. The turnaround comes after more than a decade of losses. Officials said DDA had recorded a surplus of Rs 511 crore in 2023-24 under its General Development Account (GDA). The latest surplus marks a steady rise in revenue. The GDA handles income from housing sales, shops, licence fees and sports complexes.
The growth has been driven mainly by strong housing sales. Housing receipts rose from Rs 665 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 2,398 crore in 2023-24. They increased further to Rs 2,963 crore in 2024-25. In 2025-26, housing receipts stood at Rs 2,165 crore till February 18. DDA has disposed of over 10,160 flats in 2025-26 so far. The agency had earlier faced heavy losses due to a large unsold inventory of flats.
Officials said several reforms were introduced. The allotment process shifted from lottery to first-come-first-serve and e-auction. Housing rules were amended to remove restrictions on owning property in Delhi. Professional marketing and single-window online services were also introduced.
Narela Sub-city has seen special focus. Infrastructure projects, an upcoming education hub, a proposed international sports complex and improved connectivity have boosted demand. The foundation stone for the Rithala-Narela-Kundli metro corridor has also enhanced its appeal.
Among key policy decisions, DDA approved the allotment of vacant land for setting up Atal Canteens across Delhi. Land will be leased to the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board for a token fee of Rs 1 per year for up to nine years. No permanent structures will be allowed. A policy was also cleared for allotting built-up Gram Sabha properties to Delhi Government departments for community use. These will be given on a licence for Rs 1 per year for up to nine years. Ownership will remain with DDA.
The Authority approved relaxation in premium and interest for land allotted to government universities in Narela Sub-city. Seven universities have been allotted land. The proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for final approval.
DDA also approved the urbanisation of 48 rural villages. These villages are located near urbanised areas but have remained outside planned development. They will now be brought under municipal governance to remove infrastructure gaps.
An advertisement policy was cleared to generate revenue from DDA properties such as parks, sports complexes, golf courses and vacant land. An advertisement cell will be set up to implement the policy. Sites will be identified through a survey and auctioned in phases. The Authority approved a change of land use for 19.63 hectares in Narela for a metro depot under the Rithala-Kundli corridor. It also cleared land use change for Sector 8B in the Land Pooling area of Zone P-II.
Development control norms were approved for a multi-sports integrated stadium and sports complex in Narela. The project is expected to host major sporting events and boost regional growth. Officials said these decisions aim to strengthen urban planning, improve infrastructure and enhance revenue generation across Delhi.
A policy was also cleared for allotting built-up Gram Sabha properties to Delhi Government departments for community use
