The GDA board has approved the Unified Master Plan 2031 for Ghaziabad after nearly two years of revisions. The plan spans 33,543.1 hectares across Ghaziabad, Loni, and Modinagar/Muradnagar. With a projected population of 4.8 million by 2031, it allocates 39.8% of the area for residential development and 2.2% for commercial use. The plan features TOD zones along the 1.5 km rapid rail corridor and metro lines and includes a Special Development Area around the Duhai RRTS depot. After multiple revisions and delays, it is now set to be reviewed by the state government for final approval.
After nearly two years of intense discussions, the GDA board recently approved the draft of the Unified Master Plan 2031. This plan includes Ghaziabad, Loni, and Modinagar/Muradnagar, covering a total developed area of approximately 33,543.1 hectares. This includes 18,687.8 hectares in Ghaziabad, 6,874.9 hectares in Modinagar, and 7,980.4 hectares in Loni.
With the city's population projected to reach 4.8 million by 2031, the GDA has allocated approximately 39.8% of the area, or 12,873.1 hectares, for residential development. Additionally, about 2.2% of the land, equivalent to 702.85 hectares, is designated for commercial use. The plan also includes Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones along the 1.5 km-long rapid rail corridor, covering 4,261.43 hectares, and within 500 metres of the Red Line and Blue Line metro corridors, totalling 616.61 hectares.
Furthermore, a Special Development Area of 909.82 hectares will be established around the Duhai RRTS depot. The master plan draft will now be submitted to the state government for approval before implementation. The GDA board had previously rejected the draft plan four times. In March 2023, the plan was delayed to incorporate the state's Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zone into the draft.
In August of that year, the Meerut divisional commissioner put the draft on hold because the Duhai Namo Bharat station-cum-depot was not included in the TOD zone. The board returned the plan in September, citing the failure to invite public feedback and objections. In October, the GDA sought new public objections. Approximately 72 concerns were addressed, with the majority related to the recreational green belt or green belt areas.
The revised draft plan was approved by the GDA board in November of the previous year. However, in March, the state government returned it to the development authority, requesting clarification on several clauses, including those related to the green zone and the 'record of right.' The 'record of right' refers to a 100-metre area on each side of expressways and 60 metres on each side of state highways designated as green belts.
A GDA official indicated that the new draft has addressed the changes requested by the state government and the divisional commissioner. This revised draft aims to support the city's overall development, particularly in and around the rapid rail, metro, and expressway corridors. According to the plan, areas within the Special Development Areas (SAD) and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones will be designated for mixed and residential land use. The GDA will permit a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 5, an increase from the current FAR of 1.5. This change will facilitate both residential and commercial growth and enable the development authority to generate greater revenue.
The GDA board's recent approval of the Unified Master Plan 2031 concludes nearly two years of revisions and discussions. The plan, spanning 33,543.1 hectares across Ghaziabad, Loni, and Modinagar/Muradnagar, is designed to accommodate a projected population of 4.8 million by 2031. It allocates 39.8% of the area for residential development and 2.2% for commercial use, fostering growth in both sectors. Key features include TOD zones and a Special Development Area near the Duhai RRTS depot. The plan will now be sent to the state government for final approval before implementation.
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