TOD Policy And Its Impact On Noida’s Real Estate

Nowadays, Transit-oriented development (TOD) policy is in trend. With the official announcement of Honourable FM Nirmala Sitharaman, transit-oriented development will be the utmost priority of the central government. 

However, the UP government had already implemented this policy way back in 2022. Still, with the centre jumping into it, it will now be the priority for both, the central and state governments to focus on it. Let’s delve into understanding it meticulously to know its impact and implementation vision.

What is Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)?

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a way of planning cities to make them better for people and more efficient for public transportation. It combines how we use land and plan transport to create neighbourhoods where everything is close by.

In these areas, you’ll find a mix of homes, shops, and offices, all within walking distance from transit stations, which are usually about 500 to 800 meters away from where people live. The goal is to make these areas easy to walk around and enjoyable to live in, with plenty of green spaces and public places.

TOD focuses on creating lively, busy neighbourhoods around transit stations. By encouraging people to live and work close to transit stops, TOD makes it easier for everyone to walk or bike to their destinations, like shopping or work.

This not only helps people avoid using cars but also makes the transit system more popular and successful. When transit stations are placed where people live or work, it helps balance the flow of passengers going in both directions, making the transit system work better and helping the city grow in a smart, sustainable way.

Impact Of Tod Zones On Noida

For Noida, TOD will be crucial due to the new international airport in Jewar and the planned transit links connecting it with nearby cities, including Ghaziabad. Noida intends to benefit from a 72-kilometre rapid rail corridor to the airport and a 28-kilometre light rail system. Areas within 500 meters of these routes will be part of TOD zones.

This policy will allow higher-density development in these zones, meaning more buildings and businesses can be developed. For instance, the Floor Area Ratio (FAR), which measures how much can be built on a plot of land, will increase, boosting the potential for development and revenue.

Noida expects to see a 60-70% rise in revenue from these TOD zones due to higher FAR and increased development activity. This will help the city grow rapidly and improve its connectivity and infrastructure.

How to identify TOD Zones?

The influence zone of a transit station is the area around the station where people can walk to and from easily. This zone is designed to have a lot of buildings close together with different types of uses—like homes, shops, and offices—to meet the everyday needs of people living there.

Usually, this zone extends about 500 to 800 meters from the station. If two stations are less than 1 kilometre apart and their influence zones overlap, then the zone is usually set as a 500-meter stretch on either side of the transit corridor. This distance is about a 10 to 12-minute walk.

Before starting to develop this zone, the area should be clearly marked and included in official plans like master plans and local area plans. If the development will happen in stages, then the influence area can be defined in phases as well. It's important to make the rules for defining the influence area clear to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings.

Conclusion

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) aims to create vibrant, walkable neighbourhoods around transit stations by mixing residential, commercial, and office spaces. For Noida, TOD is set to transform the city, especially around the new airport and planned transit routes.

With an increased Floor Area Ratio (FAR), Noida expects significant growth in development and revenue. By focusing on areas within 500-800 meters of transit stations, TOD will boost local connectivity, enhance infrastructure, and make the city more sustainable. This approach not only supports smarter urban growth but also improves daily life by making transit more accessible and reducing reliance on cars