Delhi to undergo district expansion, aligning boundaries with MCD zones
Delhi is set for a major administrative shift as the government plans to increase its districts from 11 to 13, aligning them with MCD zones to improve coordination and efficiency. Cabinet approval of the proposal is expected soon.
New Delhi: The capital is poised for a major administrative overhaul as the Delhi government prepares to increase the number of districts from 11 to 13. The move seeks to align district boundaries with those of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) zones, a step aimed at improving coordination and administrative efficiency.
Officials confirmed that a proposal outlining the changes was presented to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta last week, with cabinet approval expected soon. Under the plan, the current 11 districts will be dissolved, 12 districts will correspond directly with MCD zones, and the 13th will be created by merging areas under the Delhi Cantonment Board and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
Simplified administration with addition of 6 new subdivisions
Currently, multiple MCD zones overlap within the same district, often leading to disputes over development projects and coordination issues. The new arrangement is expected to simplify administration, as each MCD zone will now function as a district. Delhi’s 33 sub-divisions will increase to 39 under this plan, with significant changes also expected to district names and geography.
For example, the existing Shahdara district may be split, while other areas in South, South-East, South-West, and North-West Delhi could undergo renaming.
District Magistrates to now have more powers
District Magistrates (DMs) will gain powers similar to those in other states, and nodal officers from departments such as the Public Works Department, Water Board, and Social Welfare will operate from DM offices. Residents will benefit from streamlined services, avoiding the need to navigate multiple offices for administrative work.
Delhi has previously expanded its districts in 2012, when Shahdara and South-East districts were added to improve development work. The current expansion aims to decentralise powers further and strengthen on-ground governance, supporting Chief Minister Gupta’s vision of the DM office functioning as a mini-secretariat.
Proposed list of new districts in Delhi
| S. No | District Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 2 | Southern | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 3 | Western | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 4 | Najafgarh | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 5 | Rohini | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 6 | Civil Lines | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 7 | Karol Bagh | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 8 | SP-City | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 9 | Keshavpuram | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 10 | Narela | Corresponding to MCD zone |
| 11 | Shahdara North | Split from existing Shahdara |
| 12 | Shahdara South | Split from existing Shahdara |
| 13 | Delhi Cantonment–NDMC | New combined district |
Officials also plan an awareness campaign to guide residents through the updated boundaries, particularly for property registration, certificates, and other administrative tasks.