Critical Appraisal and Analysis of Indian Urban Planning and Development Process for Regulating Architectural Controls and Infrastructural Development in Towns

Abstract

Due to uncontrolled, unprecedented and unregulated growth ,the Indian cities are facing serious problems of extremely weak physical and social infrastructure, haphazard urban growth under various land uses , irrational land prices , issues of slums and dilapidated conditions of core city zones, deteriorating environmental conditions, problems of sanitation , health and hygiene, issues of traffic and transportation problems , problem related to urban areas are haphazard growth in peri-urban areas, indiscriminate encroachment in to fertile land, irrational distribution of population with in an urban settlement, acute scarcity of open/ breathing spaces, parking scarcity, issues of disaster management, conservation of heritage etc. So the Indian cities are still to provide liveable, healthy, vibrant, safe and secured environment to live and work and a place where for overall well being. Hence there is a dire need to address the problem on immediate and urgent basis which needs the revitalization, modification and improvement in the existing Urban Planning and Development Acts, Legislation and Process. Urban Planning and Development Process is a concept and a technique by which all the physical and developmental activities including architectural and infrastructural developments are managed, regulated and monitored. This process includes Urban Plan Formulation Urban Plan Implementation, Plan Monitoring,and Revision.The Existing Urban Planning and Development processes in most of the states in the country are managed, formulated and envisaged in the form of an instrument , broadly known as Master Plan . In this research work three Indian Towns having population of 10-15 lakhs and having historic and Regional Importance are selected for detailed study . Their existing Master Plans were studied in terms of process of their formulation, proposals, mode of Implementation, monitoring and revision under predetermined parameters.