The Delhi government announced Friday that its remaining 48 rural villages will be reclassified as urban, a move that marks the end of the capital’s rural status for all 357 villages.
Under Section 507(a) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, the new status gives the Municipal Corporation a legal framework to design and implement road, drainage, water supply, sanitation, street lighting and waste‑management projects.
But the designation does not automatically lift building restrictions—property owners must still obtain permits and comply with approved plans.
Rekha Gupta said the change aims to integrate the villages into Delhi’s development plan while safeguarding their heritage.
The proposal, first approved by the Delhi Development Authority in February and cleared by the Municipal Corporation in September, follows the Centre’s Master Plan for Delhi 2047 and echoes residents’ demands for better civic services and updated land records.
The formal change will take effect only after the government issues an official notification, expected by the end of the month, at which point the Municipal Corporation can begin detailed planning.