On Tuesday, the Union government of India announced a policy aimed at regularising residential and commercial buildings in 1,511 unauthorized colonies in Delhi. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta outlined the changes at a press conference, highlighting the simplification of the application process for ownership rights under the Pradhan Mantri - Unauthorized Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM-UDAY). While there are 1,731 unauthorized colonies in total, those located in forest areas and outside the scheme’s purview are excluded. Residents can now obtain building plans from any architect approved by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), eliminating the previous requirement for a sanctioned layout plan. Starting April 24, the PM UDAY portal will transition from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to the Delhi government’s Revenue Department for processing conveyance deeds. Chief Minister Gupta emphasized that this initiative marks the first step toward planned development in Delhi, a promise that has been pivotal for the BJP in their electoral strategy against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Union Home Minister Amit Shah noted that the scheme is expected to benefit 40 lakh people living in these unauthorized colonies.