Race Course Road slums: 717 households near PM’s home asked to vacate by March 6

In a step towards removing three slum clusters on Race Course Road near the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi, the Centre Thursday began issuing rehabilitation notices to residents, asking them to vacate by March 6 and take possession of the flats allotted to them at the DUSIB Colony at Savda Ghevra, The Indian Express has learnt. The residents of Bhai Ram Camp, Masjid Camp, and DID Camp on Race Course Road have been asked to vacate or face legal action, according to a notice issued Thursday by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to a resident. The notice, seen by The Indian Express, says the three jhuggi jhopri (JJ) clusters are located on government land under the L&DO. Sources say that the 717 households have been allotted flats at Savda Ghevra. The Prime Minister’s Residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, is located just a few kilometres from the slums. While the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) changed the name of Race Course Road to Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016, the L&DO records still list the slums’ address as Race Course Road. The notice adds that, as per the rehabilitation policy of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), a joint survey was conducted by the L&DO and the Delhi Development Authority in January 2024 to assess whether the residents were eligible for alternate housing. After that, it was decided that the residents of the three clusters would be rehabilitated at the DUSIB Colony in Savda Ghevra, about 45 km away. A notice for rehabilitation was issued to all residents on October 29, 2025, which was then challenged in the Delhi High Court in November. In its order on November 13, 2025, the court asked the government for a reply, and said: “In the meantime, the petitioners shall not be evicted without adhering to the procedural safeguards…”. On the next hearing on January 13, the government sought another four weeks to reply. The court ordered the matter to be listed on May 13 and directed that its November 13 interim order will remain in force till then. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. Expertise Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats: Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues. Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production. Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included: Culture Social Justice Housing and Urban Affairs The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus). Trustworthiness Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More