Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has formally requested ₹100 crore in first-phase financial assistance from the Union government to significantly accelerate the Pradhan Mantri Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM-UDAY) scheme. The appeal was made in a letter addressed to Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal.
The PM-UDAY scheme is a flagship initiative designed to confer ownership, transfer, and mortgage rights to residents living in 1,511 unauthorised colonies across the national capital. Many of these residents have resided in these settlements for decades without formal legal documentation, facing hurdles in accessing financial services and executing legal property transactions.
Boosting Scheme Implementation
The proposed ₹100 crore funding is crucial for establishing the necessary institutional framework to efficiently roll out the scheme. Under a revised implementation plan, the Delhi government's Revenue Department has been designated as the nodal agency. This department will be responsible for setting up dedicated PM-UDAY cells in each of Delhi's 13 districts.
Each of these district cells will be spearheaded by an Additional District Magistrate (ADM), who will oversee critical processes such as land survey, verification of claims, and all ownership-related procedures. This decentralised approach aims to streamline operations and ensure a smoother experience for applicants.
Expediting Property Rights for Lakhs
In her communication, CM Gupta specifically sought approval for the ₹100-crore package under the Urban Development Fund (UDF). She highlighted that the administrative framework for implementing the scheme has already been notified, and initial work has commenced. Timely financial support from the Centre, she stressed, would enable lakhs of Delhi residents to receive their legal property rights more quickly and with greater ease.
The Chief Minister's Office indicated that the funding request is specifically targeted at expediting land mapping, verification processes, and the digitisation of records. This will ensure that eligible residents can obtain their legal ownership documents without prolonged delays, fulfilling the scheme's core objective of regularising these settlements and paving the way for planned infrastructure development.
Gupta also acknowledged the Centre's ongoing support for the PM-UDAY scheme and urged prompt approval of the proposal to ensure the benefits of legal ownership reach residents across Delhi's unauthorised colonies at the earliest opportunity.