Narela
Narela is a planned sub-city in the North Delhi district of India's National Capital Territory of Delhi, developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) as the third major urban extension project following Rohini and Dwarka.[1][2] Envisioned in the late 1980s to integrate residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional uses across approximately 9,866 hectares, it aims to decongest central Delhi while fostering self-sustained growth through diverse economic activities.[1][3] Construction accelerated around 2000, with thousands of flats allotted primarily to lower-income groups, yet the area remains characterized by low occupancy and incomplete infrastructure.[4][5] Located about 40 kilometers northwest of central Delhi near the Haryana border, Narela functions as an administrative sub-division and tehsil within North Delhi, hosting key facilities such as a major agricultural produce market handling over 80% of arrivals from neighboring states and a 24 MW waste-to-energy plant operational since the 2010s.[6][7] Despite these elements, persistent issues including poor connectivity, water scarcity, and limited amenities have hindered livability, resulting in many constructed housing units standing vacant despite investments exceeding thousands of crores.[5][8] Recent efforts focus on transforming it into an educational hub with university campuses and improving sectoral development to emulate successful models like Dwarka.[9][10] The locality also retains historical layers, with nearby proto-historic sites like Bhorgarh indicating early settlement patterns.[11]