Gurugram City Traffic Congestion: New Plan To Ease Jams For Thousands Daily

With the expansion of the Metro in Gurugram, residents in areas connected to the Metro line are now set to receive significant benefits from the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy. Preparations are underway to notify the routes of new Metro stations under this policy. Several Metro stations have already been notified, and the remainder will also be notified soon.

In this context, Gaurav Singla of Dainik Jagran held a special discussion with Divya Dogra, DTP at the Town and Country Planning Department (Headquarters), on key aspects such as: what the TOD policy is, its main objective, its contribution to urban planning, its benefits for ordinary citizens, its role in environmental protection, the approval for additional floors in building construction, and connectivity with Metro stations. The main excerpts from the conversation are as follows:

What is the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy and what is its main objective?

TOD is an urban development policy in which the development of residential, commercial, and institutional areas is centered around public transport networks such as the Metro or Rapid Rail. Its objective is to encourage people to reduce their dependency on private vehicles, decrease traffic congestion, and develop an environmentally friendly city.

Which areas in Haryana have been included under the TOD policy?

The Haryana government has primarily included urban areas such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, and Bahadurgarh in the TOD policy. In these areas, TOD zones have been established up to a distance of 800 meters on both sides of the Delhi Metro, Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), and proposed Metro corridors.

What benefits will developers and investors receive from the TOD policy?

Developers have been permitted a higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR), meaning greater construction density, allowing them to build more units on the same plot of land. Additionally, the project approval process in TOD zones has been simplified and expedited. This will attract investment and increase projects with mixed land use.

What benefits will the general public receive from this policy?

The biggest benefit for the general public will be in the form of better connectivity and a more convenient lifestyle. Living near a Metro station or RRTS corridor means saving both time and money on daily travel, promoting green mobility like walking and cycling, and having work, schools, markets, and entertainment venues all nearby.

What are the environmental benefits of the TOD policy?

The goal of TOD is to reduce the use of private vehicles, which in turn lowers both fuel consumption and pollution. Furthermore, the planning of green spaces and pedestrian pathways has been made mandatory, which helps in reducing the urban heat island effect.

How is the TOD policy changing the direction of urban planning?

Previously, development was road-based; now, transit-centric development is being promoted. This is the compact city model—meaning dense, planned, and multi-use areas instead of urban sprawl. This will promote vertical growth, smart infrastructure, and cluster development.

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Within how many meters of a Metro line or Rapid Rail corridor is what FAR (Floor Area Ratio) permitted under the TOD policy?

According to Haryana's TOD policy, development around a Metro or Rapid Rail transit line is divided into two zones:

Intense TOD Zone (0–500 meters): The area falling within this radius has been given the highest FAR, up to 3.5 (meaning construction is permitted up to 3.5 times the plot area).

Transition Zone (500–800 meters): In this zone, an FAR of up to 2.5 is permitted. This includes the construction of additional flats in group housing societies and the development of more units in commercial projects.

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