By Prashant K. Nanda,

New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) The Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) hegemony will be curtailed and private builders will be given contracts to build 2.4 million dwelling units in the national capital, says Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken.

"The monopoly of DDA will be curtailed for the sake of better urban development. From its present position of a planning, building and regulating authority, it will be made just a regulator," Maken told IANS.

"As per the Delhi Master Plan 2021, 2.4 million dwelling units will be constructed and here the role of DDA will be limited. Not a single dwelling unit will be constructed by the land owning agency," he said firmly of the city's leading urban development agency.

Maken said Delhi was set for massive urbanisation before 2021 and 27,000 hectares would be open for such developments.

"According to the Reserve Bank of India, Rs.120 billion has been released for real estate loans in last six years and this is certainly an indication of the growing nature of our capital.

"We expect private builders in the capital to take up the challenge in a positive way and deliver with honesty," the MP from New Delhi added.

He said 300 million people in the country live in urban areas, which is nearly 28 percent of the country's population.

"As per one estimate by 2045, around 1.2 billion people -- that is nearly 70 percent of India's population -- will live in urban areas. While India is home to 5,200 small and big towns, there is a need for 3,000 more such towns to accommodate people."

Commenting on the raging row over the ongoing sealing drive of unauthorised construction in the capital and the ensuing traders protest, the minister said the problem was due to a space crunch for commercial activities.

On Friday, the urban development ministry notified fresh amendments to the Delhi Master Plan 2021 to free up more space for commercial activities and promote the mixed use of land in the capital.