Monday, October 2, 2023

TN availing Rs 1305 crore to introduce urban planning reforms


C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu government is eligible for funds worth Rs 1305 crore from the Centre to implement projects relating to urban planning reforms which includes creation of master plans for eight cities, urban forests and land pooling schemes, according to a report.

With 95 per cent of the state area being unplanned, the centre is providing Rs 400 crore to usher in the urban reforms. Initially, master plans for Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Erode and Tirupur are under preparation while master plans for Salem, Tirunelveli and Vellore are being prepared under AMRUT 1.0 sub-scheme.

The report, 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023- 24' under urban planning reforms based on a meeting conducted by Ministry of Housing and urban Affairs Secretary earlier this month highlights thst the state will be focussing on four components while preparing the masterplan. These include a comprehensive mobility plan for eight cities similar to the transport roadmap being prepared for Chennai besides focussing on blue green infrastructure, which include identifying water bodies for preservation and declaring it in the masterplan.

Apart from that the focus will also be on the economy of the eight cities, which will be collected from the Industries Department and Industrial Associations. For secondary information Statistical Handbook prepared by the Department of Economics and statistics will be utilised. Based on these data economic activities and resource centers of the planning area will be identified and proposed land use plan will be prepared.

Similarly, based on the proposals identified under different sectors of the Master Plan such as Transportation, Economy, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure, Heritage and Culture, Tourism etc. the land use plan will be prepared for the planning area. Land Suitability analysis will be done to allocate land use in a scientific manner.

Currently, draft reports of the Master Plans of the eight cities are being prepared. Once completed they ill be presented before the Government by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning for its suggestions after which it will be modified. The draft final master plan will be submitted to the Government for consent under section 24 of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971  for notification and calling objections and suggestions from the public. It is likely the draft master plan for the eight cities would get the government nod by the end of this year.

Earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu government set up a 18-member state high level committee chaired by Chief secretary for drafting the state urban development policy.  The policy will cover vision, strategy for spatial development, legislative framework, institutional strengthening, inter departmental coordination, urban planning capacity and other related aspects of urban development.

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