New Delhi: The Centre's decision to develop four new "Namo Cities" in the National Capital Region (NCR) under the Regional Plan 2041 is expected to accelerate transit-oriented development and open up new real estate growth corridors beyond Delhi, Gurugram and Noida, according to industry stakeholders.
The proposed semi-greenfield, mixed-use urban centres -- one each in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh -- will be developed around existing and upcoming Namo Bharat stations.
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The Centre has earmarked Rs 5,000 crore over the next five years for the initiative, which aims to promote balanced regional development by creating well-connected residential and economic hubs.
National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) Managing Director Shalabh Goel said that Namo Bharat, the country’s first regional rapid transit system (RRTS), was envisioned as a catalyst for sustainable and balanced regional development.
"Through enhanced accessibility, it will unlock new growth corridors, encourage development beyond traditional urban centres and foster vibrant transit-oriented communities that support long-term economic and social progress.
"By transforming regional connectivity and bringing people closer to opportunities, it is laying the foundation for a more integrated and polycentric NCR," he said.
The announcement on Namo cities came after the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) decided to retain the existing NCR boundaries and constituted a sub-committee to finalise the Regional Plan 2041.
According to a recent Knight Frank India report, the Regional Plan 2041 could attract nearly Rs 20 lakh crore in investments, accommodate an additional population of around three crore and facilitate the emergence of multiple new urban centres across the region.
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Ashish Jerath, President-Sales and Marketing, Smartworld Developers, said the Namo Bharat network was expected to spur infrastructure-led development, similar to the impact witnessed along the Delhi-Meerut corridor.
He said improved connectivity would encourage homebuyers and businesses to explore emerging micro-markets, with the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB corridor having the potential to emerge as the NCR's next major growth axis.
According to industry estimates, property values within a two-kilometre radius of stations on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor have appreciated by 30-67 percent over the past two years, with areas such as Meerut, Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar witnessing increased demand.
Abhay Mishra, President and CEO of Jindal Realty, said the Regional Plan 2041 marked a shift towards more balanced regional development and that improving connectivity was likely to make Tier-II locations such as Sonipat attractive for residential and commercial investments.
Industry experts said the success of the Namo Cities initiative would depend on timely execution of transport infrastructure, coordinated planning and sustained investments, with the Namo Bharat network expected to serve as the backbone of regional mobility.
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