In a bold push to accelerate urban development in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged private real estate developers to actively participate in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models aimed at transforming slums into permanent housing. Speaking at the curtain-raiser event for the 17th national convention of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), CM Gupta laid out a vision for inclusive infrastructure and holistic development.
“We urge the industry members and developers to come up with PPP models for developing state-of-the-art hospitals, schools, shopping malls, accommodations, and infrastructure,” CM Gupta said, addressing a gathering of top developers and policymakers in the city. “The government will extend full policy and funding support. Our aim is to convert all slums in Delhi into permanent homes.”
The NAREDCO convention is scheduled for August 29-30 in New Delhi and is expected to host key stakeholders from across India’s real estate and construction ecosystem. CM Gupta’s address was part of a broader call to industry players to contribute not only to commercial development but also to social infrastructure that addresses the needs of Delhi’s urban poor.
The Chief Minister further asserted that her government would require just two years to reverse the developmental backlog of the past decade. “With the right partnership models and policy alignment, we can reshape Delhi into a more livable, inclusive, and future-ready city,” she said.
Industry body NAREDCO responded positively to CM Gupta’s appeal but emphasized the need for structural reforms to speed up implementation. The group urged the Delhi government to streamline the approval processes for real estate and infrastructure projects. Delays in obtaining clearances, land-use permissions, and environmental nods remain significant hurdles to timely execution.
“The intent from the government is promising, but it must be matched by faster and more transparent regulatory processes,” said a senior NAREDCO official at the event. “If approvals are time-bound and infrastructure is improved, the industry is more than willing to invest in PPP-based development models.”
The move comes at a time when India’s urban population is expanding rapidly, straining city infrastructure and widening the housing gap. With over 1,700 slum clusters in Delhi alone, the capital faces a mammoth challenge in providing safe and permanent housing to millions.
CM Gupta’s push aligns with national initiatives such as PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) and the Smart Cities Mission, where collaboration between governments and private developers has been key to progress.
