Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Meerut: The Future of Urban Living and Commercial Growth

The Future of Urban Living in Meerut is being reshaped by Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) planned around the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS (Namo Bharat) and upcoming Meerut Metro corridors. By integrating high-speed transit with compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods, Meerut is positioning itself as a model for sustainable urban growth and investment-led development in India.

What Is TOD and Why It Matters for Meerut?

Transit-Oriented Development is an urban planning approach that promotes higher-density, mixed-use development within walking distance of mass transit systems. It typically combines housing, offices, retail, public spaces and social infrastructure around stations, reducing dependence on private vehicles and promoting walkability.

In Uttar Pradesh’s TOD policy, areas within 500 metres of city mass transit (metro) and up to 1.5 km along intercity systems like the Delhi–Meerut RRTS are notified as TOD zones with higher permissible FAR to support vertical, mixed-use growth. This framework is directly guiding how the Future of Urban Living in Meerut will evolve along the RRTS and Meerut Metro network.

Meerut – India’s First City to Integrate TOD into Its Master Plan

Meerut has become the first city in India to formally integrate TOD zones into its Master Plan 2031. The Meerut Development Authority (MEDA) has earmarked about 3,273 hectares for TOD, of which 2,442 hectares are delineated into seven TOD zones and two special development areas (SDAs) around the Namo Bharat and Meerut Metro corridors.

These TOD zones are planned as self-sustaining urban nodes combining:

• Residential communities
• Commercial and office spaces
• Education, healthcare and institutional facilities
• Retail, leisure and public amenities

A flagship example is the proposed New Meerut Township, a roughly 300–350 hectare greenfield development near Meerut South station, designed explicitly on TOD principles.

How TOD Is Shaping the Future of Urban Living in Meerut

TOD in Meerut is expected to change how people live, commute and access services in several ways:

• Walkable, compact neighbourhoods: Housing, jobs, retail and amenities clustered around stations will reduce daily travel distances and encourage walking and cycling.
• Reduced car dependence: With high-frequency RRTS and metro connectivity, more residents can rely on public transport for daily commuting to Delhi, Ghaziabad and within Meerut.
• Better quality of life: Shorter commutes, integrated public spaces and better air quality from fewer private vehicles contribute to more liveable, human-scaled neighbourhoods.
• Inclusive access: TOD policy aims to include affordable housing near transit, improving access for lower and middle-income groups to jobs and services.

These shifts together illustrate why TOD is central to the Future of Urban Living in Meerut over the next decade.

TOD and Commercial Growth in Meerut

Transit-Oriented Development is not only a residential concept; it is also a powerful driver of commercial growth in Meerut. Concentrating development around stations encourages:

Higher footfalls for retail, F&B and service businesses.

Demand for office, co-working and institutional spaces near major transit nodes.

Integrated townships that blend commercial, healthcare and educational facilities with housing.

Evidence from the operational Namo Bharat section shows that land values within roughly 2 km of RRTS stations in Meerut have already risen by about 30–50% in two years, with some pockets witnessing hikes of up to 67%. This appreciation is closely linked to infrastructure-led demand and integrated TOD-based planning.

For businesses and institutional occupiers, this means station-area locations are increasingly attractive for setting up offices, clinics, coaching centres, retail hubs and logistics-linked facilities.

TOD-Driven Opportunities for Commercial Investment in Meerut

For investors, TOD in Meerut is unlocking new commercial investment in Meerut across multiple asset classes:

• Retail and high-street formats near stations, benefiting from daily commuter and neighbourhood footfall.
• Office and co-working spaces, catering to professionals leveraging the RRTS link to Delhi-NCR.
• Mixed-use developments combining residential towers with lower-floor retail and office uses.
• Hospitality and serviced apartments, especially near key interchanges and major institutional zones.

Higher permitted FAR in TOD zones (often from a base of about 2.5 up to 4–5 in many areas) enhances project viability and scale for developers while offering more efficient land use around high-value transit infrastructure.

Role of Developers Like Ajanta Bharat in a TOD-Led Meerut

As TOD principles become central to planning, developers with a strong local presence and mixed-use expertise are well-positioned to contribute to the Future of Urban Living in Meerut. Brands such as Ajanta Bharat, known for residential townships and commercial complexes in Meerut, can align new projects with station-area planning, walkable layouts and integrated community amenities to match TOD objectives.

By focusing on:

• Mixed-use blocks near key corridors
• Pedestrian-friendly internal street networks
• Integrated residential and commercial clusters

developers can support the city’s TOD vision while creating investment-grade assets for long-term users and investors.

Transit-Oriented Development is shifting Meerut from a traditional, vehicle-centric city to a transit-linked urban system where mobility, housing and commerce are planned together. This makes TOD a cornerstone of the Future of Urban Living in Meerut and a key lens for evaluating both residential and commercial growth in Meerut in the years ahead.