The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched a portal for developers seeking approval for projects under the revised transit-oriented development (TOD) policy. Developers must first seek approval for TOD plots before submitting building plans for clearance on the portal, according to a report by The Hindu.

As per the revised policy, notified on April 6, TOD is permitted along 207 sq. km of metro corridors and within a 500-metre radius of the regional rapid transit system and railway stations. Around 80 sq. km of parcels under the land pooling policy, low-density residential areas and unauthorised colonies have also been brought under the TOD framework for the first time. These areas were excluded from the earlier policy.

According to the DDA, the expanded coverage is expected to facilitate planned development and redevelopment while promoting affordable housing and mixed-use projects near public transport corridors.

“The policy provides for online, transparent and time-bound approvals,” the DDA said. It added that developers will no longer have to seek separate approvals from multiple agencies. Instead, a TOD committee headed by the DDA Vice-Chairman and comprising representatives from all stakeholder agencies will provide single-window clearances.

The authority said charges payable to different agencies have also been consolidated into a single TOD charge. This includes charges for water and sewerage services from the Delhi Jal Board, sanction charges from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, land-use change charges, additional floor area ratio levies and DDA’s leasehold-to-freehold conversion charges.