The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) standing committee has approved a proposal to grant urban status to 48 villages across the capital, a move aimed at managing the city’s expanding urban footprint. The decision was taken under Section 507(a) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 and follows reporting by a national news agency. The clearance will allow the identified settlements to enter formal municipal frameworks. Once accorded urban status, the areas will become eligible for structured urban planning and upgraded municipal services including roads, drainage, sewerage networks, drinking water supply, street lighting and waste management systems. The standing committee chairperson said many settlements had evolved beyond their traditional rural character and now function as urban clusters in need of organised governance. Formal recognition is intended to enable planned development and improved delivery of civic services. The villages selected under the proposal are located across North, North-West, North-East, South, South-West and South-East Delhi where development pressure has risen sharply in recent years. Officials noted that the step aligns with the Master Plan for Delhi-2041, which addresses population growth, land use and infrastructure demand through long term planning. Integrating these areas into the city framework will bring agencies together to regulate land use and investment in public works. Authorities indicated the decision is expected to tighten oversight on unauthorised construction as future building activity and land use changes would fall within municipal norms and approval systems. Following standing committee clearance, the matter will be placed before the full house of the MCD and thereafter forwarded to the Central government for final approval. Implementation timelines were not specified but officials said municipal departments will begin assessment and planning for services.