Why in News?

Recently, The meeting of the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) approved the proposal to develop four semi‑greenfield Namo Cities under the Regional Plan‑2041.

• Regional Plan 2041 – Multi‑state growth blueprint approved by NCRPB.
• Coverage – Governs land use, housing, transport, environment across 55,083 sq.km including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan.
• Population Projection – Significant rise from 7.86 crore (2026) to 14.73 crore by 2041.
• Urbanisation – Expected to rise to 67% by 2041.
• Growth Hotspots – Sonipat, Meerut, Jewar, Bhiwadi, Alwar identified as future centres.

Namo Cities

• Nature – Semi‑greenfield, mixed‑use, Transit‑Oriented Development (TOD) cities.
• Location – Proposed along Namo Bharat (RRTS) stations.
•  The 4 cities are mandated to be distributed equally — one each across the four states (Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan).

Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) - It is a semi-high-speed, high-frequency regional rail network designed to connect major cities with nearby satellite towns at speeds up to 160 km/h.

• Objective – Create self‑sustaining settlements with local employment hubs, housing, and civic infrastructure to reduce dependence on Delhi.

Key Features

• 30‑Minute NCR – Vision to connect jobs, homes, and services within half an hour through RRTS, metro, highways, and rail networks.
• Green Cover Incentives – States to be incentivised to expand canopy cover using green credits and Special Development Rights (SDRs).
• Urban Design – Rationalisation of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and Floor Space Index (FSI) around transit corridors to unlock housing and commercial supply.
• Integration – Linked with major assets like Noida International Airport, Yamuna Expressway, Dwarka Expressway, and expanding metro/RRTS networks.

References

1. PIB | NAMO
2. NDTV | NAMO