Secretary, Urban Development and Principal Director of Fire Services, Sachin Rana, outlined Delhi’s shift toward integrated, infrastructure-led urban planning to accommodate rapid redevelopment, vertical growth, and the challenges of unauthorised colonies. He emphasised that future planning must combine adequate roads, water supply, drainage, sewerage, parking, open spaces, and emergency access while improving basic civic infrastructure in older and vulnerable settlements. Greater coordination among civic agencies is being strengthened to align land use, mobility, utilities, environmental sustainability, and public safety, alongside initiatives such as the PM Uday Scheme and a new portal for processing rehabilitation and regularisation-related charges in unauthorised colonies.
'Delhi Is Moving Towards Redevelopment and Vertical Growth': Sachin Rana IAS
Verbatim Transcript
Delhi’s urban landscape is changing quickly, with redevelopment projects, unauthorized colonies and increasing vertical construction. How is the Urban Development Department adapting its planning approach?
Delhi has a diverse and rapidly changing urban landscape. Our approach is therefore shifting towards integrated and infrastructure-based planning. Adequate roads, water supply, drainage, sewerage, parking, open spaces and emergency access must support redevelopment and vertical growth. In older areas, urban villages and unauthorised colonies, the focus is on improving basic services and reducing existing vulnerabilities. PM Uday Scheme is a great opportunity for this. Greater coordination among local bodies, development agencies and utility departments is also being promoted so that land use, mobility, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and public safety are planned together. We are working on developing a portal for seeking R&R charges in the unauthorised colonies, as in other areas of the city.
As Delhi sees more high-rises and densely packed commercial spaces, how has the Delhi Fire Service’s approach to fire prevention and response evolved?
Delhi Fire Service is increasingly focusing on prevention and preparedness, in addition to emergency response. High-rise buildings and congested commercial areas require specialised planning, equipment and trained personnel. We are strengthening the department's capabilities through manpower augmentation, Increased Fire station numbers, and improved tools and equipment. Area familiarization and pre-incident planning for high-risk buildings is also one of the tasks we are working on. Emphasis is also being placed on maintaining clear access roads, functional fire-protection systems and safe evacuation arrangements. Modern appliances, rescue equipment, regular training and public-awareness programmes are being strengthened to improve our ability to respond effectively to high-rise fires and emergencies in densely populated areas.
Are there any technology-driven upgrades, such as improved emergency-response systems, GIS-based planning or smart-building compliance checks? How is the Fire Service adopting technology to prevent fire incidents?
Technology is central to the modernisation of the Delhi Fire Service. We are working towards using technology at three levels: prevention, emergency response and organisational management. Technology is also being used to improve prevention, planning and emergency response. We are working towards greater digitisation of Fire Safety response. Further, GIS-based mapping can help identify high-risk buildings, congested areas, water sources, fire-station jurisdictions and suitable response routes. GPS tracking, digital communication and computer-aided dispatch will reduce response time and improve coordination. Data analysis can also identify recurring causes and locations of fire incidents. However, in my opinion, technology needs to be supported by regular physical inspections, proper maintenance of fire-safety systems and trained manpower.
Looking forward, what would you identify as the key priorities for Delhi’s urban-development and fire-safety systems, and what should residents expect to see improve in the near future?
Our priorities are resilient urban planning, improvement of vulnerable settlements and modernisation of the Delhi Fire Service. Infrastructure must keep pace with population growth and increasing building density. Fire prevention will be strengthened through better planning, continuous monitoring and proper maintenance of safety systems. We also intend to improve fire-station infrastructure, specialised appliances, communication systems, GIS-based planning and training. Residents should expect a more transparent, technology-enabled and responsive system. At the same time, building owners and occupants must keep access roads and exits clear and ensure that fire-safety installations remain functional. In my opinion, the ultimate objective is not merely to respond faster after an incident, but to reduce the likelihood of the incident occurring in the first place and to make Delhi safer, more resilient and better prepared for the future.