New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has issued a notification listing 1,511 colonies, out of 1,731 identified unauthorised ones, where plot owners can apply for regularisation of properties.The gazette notification, uploaded on the DDA website and approved on April 8, includes colonies such as Prem Nagar, Noor Nagar, Kotla Vihar, Harijan Basti in Masoodpur, Hari Enclave and Balbir Nagar in Kirari Suleman Nagar, Vashu Vihar in Holambi Kalan and the Aruna Asaf Ali Road stretch parallel to village Kishan Garh, among others.Ownership rights will not be granted to 69 unauthorised colonies that are termed as “affluent” as well as those properties that were made in reserved or notified forests, areas protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and Zone-O, which is the Yamuna floodplain.In a separate gazette notification, DDA has explained the amendments to National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Regulations, 2019, that will be used for regularisation of plots that also house convenience shops, or similar scenarios.“We recognise that many residents of unauthorised colonies belong to lower-income groups and run small convenience stores for a livelihood. Therefore, such mixed-use properties will not be penalised, though certain conditions must be met,” a DDA official said.According to the revised rules, plots with access from roads having a minimum right of way of six metres may have a convenience shop with built-up area up to 20 square metres. Where the road width is less than six metres, the permissible built-up area for such shops will be limited to 10 square metres.Officials said the amendments also empower MCD to issue certificates of regularisation.“Upon receiving complete applications from residents of listed unauthorised colonies, MCD or other local bodies will issue a certificate of regularisation. The absence of an approved or notified layout plan will not prevent plots from being considered for regularisation,” said the notification. It added that structures must have direct access to a street without any obstruction.If the internal road width is less than 6 metres, then the property owners on both sides will have to surrender equal land to make up for the width deficiency. The same condition applies for external approach roads that should be 9 metres in width. These conditions will come into play when the owners take up reconstruction.There are conditions regarding floor area ratio (FAR) too. Say, in case the permissible FAR of a plot is 350, and the property owner has to surrender 20% of the plot area for the right of way, given the narrowness of the road. In such a case, s/he can build vertically to the maximum FAR allowed for the old plot size. The notification says: “While the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) for plots in unauthorised colonies will be calculated on the basis of the original plot area, it may be utilised on the reduced plot area after land surrender.” An official said: “This effectively allows owners to go for vertical expansion based on the earlier plot size.’However, where plots exceed the permitted FAR under the Master Plan for Delhi, penal FAR charges at three times the normal additional FAR charges will apply, as notified by DDA.The amended norms also require compliance with the Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2016, during reconstruction or redevelopment.Layout plans for each unauthorised colony will be prepared by an inter-agency cell comprising representatives of MCD, DDA, govt of NCT Delhi and other agencies, using satellite imagery to mark road widths and access routes.These plans will act as a guiding framework for future redevelopment but will not be mandatory for approval of building plans for existing structures.The notification clarifies that delay or non-preparation of layout plans will not obstruct regularisation. It also states that MCD and other agencies must take steps to provide and upgrade essential infrastructure and basic amenities in colonies regularised under the regulations.