Delhi is poised to undergo a significant administrative restructuring with the creation of two new districts and six new sub-divisions. This move, which has received in-principle approval from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, aims to streamline governance, improve inter-departmental coordination, and enhance citizen services in the National Capital Territory.
Currently, Delhi has 11 revenue districts, each headed by a District Magistrate, operating independently. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is divided into 12 zones, each managed by a Deputy Commissioner. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area (Lutyens' Zone) functions as a separate entity within the New Delhi district. This fragmented structure often leads to coordination problems and jurisdictional disputes. For instance, the Central zone cuts across four districts: Central, New Delhi, South, and South East. Similarly, the South zone spans four districts: New Delhi, South, South-East, and South-West. Rohini zone overlaps with North, North-West and West districts.
To address these issues, the Delhi government plans to align MCD zones with revenue districts. The 12 existing MCD zones—Central, City Sadar-Paharganj, Civil Lines, Karol Bagh, Keshavpuram, Najafgarh, Narela, Rohini, Shahdara North, Shahdara South, South, and West—are likely to be declared as districts. In this process, Shahdara district may undergo extensive changes, and the boundaries of South East and Outer Delhi (North West and South West) could also be redrawn. The NDMC and Delhi Cantonment areas will be integrated into the New Delhi district. With these changes, Delhi will have 13 revenue districts and 39 sub-divisions. The last time Delhi added new districts was in September 2012, when South-East Delhi and Shahdara were created.
The restructuring will require a major redraw of Delhi's administrative map, involving changes to district and sub-division boundaries, such as adding or excluding certain villages and localities. The names of the new districts and sub-divisions are likely to be based on the areas or MCD zones they cover.
Chief Minister Gupta has emphasized that the realignment aims to improve inter-departmental coordination, eliminate jurisdictional overlaps, and enable quicker redressal of citizens' grievances. Aligning district boundaries with MCD zones will ensure better administrative coordination and prevent jurisdictional complications. The government is determined to resolve people's problems promptly and effectively.
The process of forming new districts has already begun, with the revenue department drafting a proposal outlining the logic and expected benefits of the move. The proposal will seek comments from the finance and law departments before being placed before the Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister. After Cabinet approval, it will go to the Lieutenant Governor for final approval.
To make governance more transparent and citizen-centric, the government is also setting up 'Mini Secretariats' in all 11 districts. These secretariats and District Development Committee chairpersons' offices will allow direct dialogue with citizens and hold regular public hearings to ensure the quick resolution of issues.
The restructuring of Delhi's administrative boundaries is expected to result in more focused administration, smoother coordination, faster service delivery, and easier access to welfare schemes for the residents of Delhi. By eliminating the confusion caused by overlapping jurisdictions, the government aims to create a more efficient and citizen-friendly administrative system.
