The sudden influx of more than 4 lakhs of people in Delhi in the late forties added to the growing population and posed a formidable challenge to the Planners and Administrators to control and regulate the growth of the city.

The Delhi Development Act of 1957 assigned to the Delhi Development Authority the responsibility to promote and secure the development of Delhi in accordance with the Master Plan and for that purpose, conferred upon it the power to acquire, hold, manage and dispose of land and other property, carry out building, engineering, mining and other operations, execute works in connection with supply of water and electricity, disposal of sewage and other services and amenities, and generally do anything necessary or expedient for purposes of such  development.

The DDA has since dedicated itself to the development of Delhi, and its activities have steadily diversified. Today it provides housing, commercial and recreational facilities and undertakes developmental and horticultural works. A significant landmark was crossed in March 1994 when the DDA achieved the mark of providing shelter to a million families through its various schemes of construction of flats, allotment  of  plots  to  individuals  or  to Cooperative Societies and through dwelling units in many colonies. More than two thirds of the total dwelling units have gone to the low income group or the economically weaker sections.

Looking ahead to the next century, the Master Plan for Delhi has been further revised by DDA as the Perspective Plan 2001. It has also made a unique contribution in maintaining the ecological balance in the city by way of developing 16,000 acres of land as 'GREEN' for city forests, wood lands, parks, playgrounds and sports complexes.

The Department of Posts is happy to bring out a special postage stamp on the Delhi Development Authority which has been in the forefront of planning and building of the capital of  India.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India