UP to prepare new master plan format for cities

Lucknow, Sep 24 : The Uttar Pradesh government has prepared a format for the master plan by development authorities to plan for economic growth along with improving living standards.

The plan will be pushing for rapid urbanisation along with industrialisation.

Some elements that the key urban centres will have to define in their master plans include city logistics plan, transit oriented zones, memorandum of under- standing documents signed during the 2023 GIS, river centric planning and ODOP hub with expected turnover.

According to the government spokesman, in the first phase, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Gorakhpur and Jhansi will be transformed into regional growth engines.

Additional chief secretary (ACS) of the housing department has given directions to the vice-chairmen of the 10 authorities to prepare a concise 22-page presentation covering important future projects, development activities, economic nodes, land usage distribution, transportation and mobility plan, blue layer (covering rivers, canals, water bodies), green layer (covering large parks and green belts), heritage layer, solid waste management plan and future expansion plans among others.

"The idea is to integrate all these elements while preparing the master plans of the 10 cities on a priority basis.

But as the master plan document is exhaustive, a concise presentation is needed which will act as a ready reckoner to get an overview of the key elements of a city.Moreover, it will include the key projects under both development authorities and municipal corporations," said the spokesman.

ACS housing Nitin Ramesh Gokarn said several new concepts have been introduced in the state over the past three years to push for urbanisation along with improved urban services.

"A standard format has been prepared for all the development authorities which will cover existing economic and urban development and civic amenities, as well as those required for future growth," he said.

Meanwhile, Lucknow, Kanpur and Ghaziabad development authorities have been asked to earmark the transit-oriented zone as per the existing and future metro corridors to promote vertical growth within congested and highly commercial parts of the city.

amita/svn