DJB allows provisional NOC with 25% IFC payment

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has approved a key reform in the payment of infrastructure charges (IFC), allowing property owners and developers to obtain a provisional no objection certificate (NOC) by paying just 25% of the applicable charges upfront, officials said.

The remaining amount can be paid later and will be adjusted based on final rates at the time of sanctioning a water connection. The interim move is expected to unlock thousands of stalled projects across the capital, officials added.

Delhi water minister Parvesh Verma said the decision follows repeated representations from residents and developers over the sharp rise in infrastructure charges in recent years.


As per the revised framework, commercial IFC rates stand at ₹446.7 for A and B category colonies, ₹319.07 for C, ₹191.45 for D and ₹127.63 for E-H categories. Residential properties attract ₹255.27 (A and B), ₹191.45 (C), ₹127.63 (D) and ₹63.81 (E-H). Sewer charges vary across categories, officials said.

The government had earlier shifted the calculation methodology from occupancy-based to floor-area-based assessment to control sharp cost escalations in some cases rising five to ten times, an official said.

Calling the reform a “practical and humane approach,” Verma said the move would ensure people are not prevented from constructing homes due to high upfront costs.

The Times of India reported that properties up to 200 square metres will continue to remain exempt from IFC, while larger plots are likely to benefit from a rationalised framework.

Preliminary estimates suggest IFC liability could reduce by 50% to 70% in many cases, easing the financial burden and boosting construction activity, employment and allied sectors, The Times of India reported.