Delhi's Unauthorised Colonies: A Ticking Urban Time Bomb

Every year, an estimated 7–8 lakh people settle in Delhi, migrating from neighbouring states and even countries, in search of better economic opportunities.

- RANJAN MUKHERJEE

Every now and then, there is a report of a building collapse in some unauthorised colony or other in Delhi, often with fatalities. Disasters such as these—alongside fire outbreaks, waterlogging, flooding, electrocution deaths, etc.—are erratic but frequent in the national capital.

The reasons are rooted in rampant and unmanageable illegal constructions that flout every building regulation, particularly structural safety norms. To cater to the ever-increasing demand for housing, the building mafia has been on overdrive for the past couple of decades, continuing unchecked illegal construction in every possible nook and corner of Delhi. This includes areas around ASI-protected monuments, with little regard for heritage or safety, all to accommodate the overwhelming population growth that Delhi is no longer able to absorb.

This overload has stressed associated urban infrastructure: the volume of vehicles on Delhi's roads has exploded, leading to a severe parking crisis. Almost every road has been converted into an illegal parking lot by the MCD parking mafia, putting pedestrian lives at risk. Pollution has increased to hazardous levels, and basic civic utilities—water, electricity, sewage—are under immense strain. Every year, an estimated 7–8 lakh people settle in Delhi, migrating from neighbouring states and even countries, in search of better economic opportunities.