{"id":126964,"date":"2026-09-30T17:19:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T11:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=126964"},"modified":"2026-09-30T17:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T11:49:51","slug":"urban-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/urban-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Urban Planning, Importance, Challenges, Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Urban Planning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the process of planning and managing the growth and development of cities and towns. It focuses on the proper use of land, housing, transport, infrastructure, public spaces, and essential services to create <\/span><b>safe, efficient, inclusive, and sustainable urban areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. With rapid urbanisation and growing pressure on city resources, effective urban planning is important for improving the quality of life and supporting balanced urban development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Urban Planning in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Urban planning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the systematic process of planning and managing the growth of cities and towns. It deals with the use of land, housing, transport, infrastructure, public spaces, environmental resources and essential services so that urban areas remain functional, inclusive and sustainable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In India, urban planning involves <\/span><b>land-use planning, zoning, housing, transportation, water supply, sanitation, waste management, drainage, green spaces and economic development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The objective is not merely to construct buildings and roads but to create cities where people can live, work and move safely and efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The need for modern urban planning emerged strongly with <\/span><b>industrialisation and rapid urbanisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which brought problems such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate housing and congestion. In the Indian context, rapid population growth, migration and expanding urban boundaries have made planned development increasingly important.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Urban Planning Mechanism in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> gave constitutional recognition to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/urban-local-bodies\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Urban Local Bodies<\/b><\/a><b> (ULBs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and strengthened the framework for urban self-government.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/12th-schedule-of-indian-constitution\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>12th Schedule of the Constitution<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> includes subjects such as urban planning, regulation of land use, planning for economic and social development, roads, water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and urban forestry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban planning is primarily implemented through <\/span><b>municipal bodies, development authorities and other institutions created under state laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The exact institutional arrangement varies from state to state.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Metropolitan Planning Committees (MPCs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are intended to prepare development plans for metropolitan areas by coordinating the plans of municipalities and panchayats within the metropolitan region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cities and development authorities generally prepare <\/span><b>master plans or development plans<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that guide land use, infrastructure development, transport networks, housing and other urban facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spatial planning is important because urban problems do not remain confined to municipal boundaries. Issues such as transport, drainage, waste management, water supply and land use often require coordination across neighbouring urban and rural areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Major Elements of Urban Planning<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Land-use planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Allocates land for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational and other purposes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transport planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Develops roads, public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure and multimodal connectivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Housing planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Promotes adequate, affordable and accessible housing while addressing informal settlements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Infrastructure planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Covers water supply, sewerage, drainage, electricity, waste management and other basic services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Environmental planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Protects water bodies, wetlands, forests, green spaces and other natural resources while reducing pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Connects urban development with employment, investment, industries, services and local economic opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community participation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Involves residents and other stakeholders in planning so that urban development reflects local requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Technology-based planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Uses tools such as <\/span><b>GIS, satellite imagery, remote sensing and digital databases<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for better land-use mapping, infrastructure planning and monitoring.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Importance of Urban Planning for Sustainable Development<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban planning is increasingly important because India&#8217;s cities are expanding rapidly. NITI Aayog projects that the country&#8217;s urban population share could increase from around <\/span><b>37% in 2023 to 51% by 2047<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This means that cities will require large-scale expansion of housing, transport, water supply, sanitation, energy and other infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Managing rapid urbanisation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Planned development helps cities accommodate population growth and migration without uncontrolled expansion, congestion and pressure on basic services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supporting economic growth:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Cities are important centres of manufacturing, services, trade, innovation and employment. Better planning can improve connectivity, infrastructure and the overall business environment. NITI Aayog identifies urbanisation as central to India&#8217;s long-term economic growth and the development of a larger urban economy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improving quality of life:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Proper planning can ensure better access to housing, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, education, public transport, parks and other essential services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promoting sustainable mobility:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Integrated planning can reduce dependence on private vehicles by strengthening public transport, walking and cycling networks. This can help reduce congestion, air pollution and emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reducing urban flooding:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Protecting wetlands, lakes, drainage channels and natural water systems and integrating stormwater management into urban plans can improve flood resilience.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Addressing <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>climate change<\/b><\/a><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Cities face growing risks from heatwaves, floods, water stress and air pollution. Climate-sensitive planning can promote green infrastructure, energy-efficient buildings, low-carbon transport and better disaster preparedness. NITI Aayog highlights climate risks and unplanned urban expansion among the structural challenges facing Indian cities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improving resource management:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Urban planning can help cities manage limited resources such as land, water and energy through efficient infrastructure and sustainable land-use practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promoting inclusive development:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Planned housing, basic services and accessible public spaces can help reduce spatial inequality and improve living conditions in informal settlements and low-income neighbourhoods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Protecting natural and cultural heritage:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Urban planning can integrate the conservation of heritage structures, historic areas, water bodies and green spaces with modern development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supporting balanced regional development:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strengthening Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, satellite towns and regional economic centres can reduce excessive pressure on major metropolitan areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Role of Technology in Urban Planning<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology has become an important part of modern urban planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>GIS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> helps planners store, analyse and display geographically linked information such as land use, roads, utilities, property and infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Satellite imagery and remote sensing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provide updated information on urban expansion, land-use changes and environmental conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Drones or UAVs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can support infrastructure surveys, monitoring of construction, identification of encroachments and mapping of urban areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Digital urban databases and smart-city technologies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can improve decision-making, service delivery and infrastructure management.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These tools can help governments move from reactive planning towards <\/span><b>data-based and evidence-driven urban development<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Challenges of Urban Planning in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite several planning frameworks and urban-development programmes, Indian cities continue to face significant challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rapid and unplanned urbanisation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Fast population growth, migration and urban expansion often take place faster than infrastructure development, resulting in congestion, inadequate services and unplanned settlements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limited coverage of effective master plans:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Many urban settlements either do not have updated plans or struggle to implement existing plans. This can lead to unregulated construction and inefficient land use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fragmented urban governance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Multiple agencies may be responsible for land development, transport, water, housing and infrastructure. Weak coordination among them can result in overlapping responsibilities and delayed projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limited empowerment of ULBs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Although the 74th Amendment created a constitutional framework for urban local governance, the actual devolution of <\/span><b>functions, funds and functionaries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> varies across states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Shortage of skilled urban planners:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Rapid urban expansion has increased the demand for planners and professionals with expertise in areas such as transport, environment, urban economics, climate resilience and digital planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inadequate municipal finances:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Many ULBs have limited own-source revenues and remain dependent on transfers from state and central governments. Weak property-tax systems and limited financial capacity can constrain urban infrastructure investment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Affordable housing shortage:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> High land prices, migration and limited affordable housing supply contribute to informal settlements and housing insecurity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Transport and mobility problems:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Congestion, inadequate public transport, poor pedestrian infrastructure and dependence on private vehicles increase travel time, pollution and emissions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Environmental degradation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Unplanned construction can result in the loss of wetlands, water bodies, green spaces and agricultural land while increasing air and water pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Urban flooding and water stress:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Encroachment on natural drainage systems, inadequate stormwater infrastructure and poor waste management can worsen flooding. At the same time, rapidly growing cities face increasing pressure on water resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Urban heat island effect:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Dense construction, extensive paved surfaces, limited vegetation and high energy use can raise temperatures in cities and increase heat-related risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weak citizen participation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Urban planning can become overly top-down when residents and local communities are not adequately involved in decision-making and implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Outdated planning regulations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Traditional planning frameworks often focus heavily on land-use zoning and static master plans, while modern cities require greater attention to economic development, climate resilience, mobility, resource management and social inclusion.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Government Initiatives for Urban Planning in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government of India has introduced several programmes to improve urban infrastructure, housing, sanitation, mobility, water supply and urban governance. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs currently lists initiatives such as <\/span><b>AMRUT 2.0, PMAY-U 2.0, Smart Cities Mission, Urban Challenge Fund, PM-eBus Sewa, National Urban Digital Mission and DAY-NULM<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> among its urban programmes.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/smart-cities-mission-deadline-pushed-to-2024-smart-cities-working-hard-to-showcase-achievements\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Smart Cities Mission<\/b><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launched in <\/span><b>2015<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Smart Cities Mission aimed to promote better urban infrastructure and improve the quality of life in <\/span><b>100 selected cities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It emphasised technology-enabled governance, improved urban services, efficient infrastructure, sustainable development and citizen-centric solutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Integrated Command and Control Centres, smart mobility, water management, sanitation and digital governance were among the areas supported under the mission.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>AMRUT 2.0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> focuses on strengthening urban water security and improving water and wastewater management.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its areas include <\/span><b>water supply, sewerage and septage management, water-body rejuvenation and development of green spaces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Current project data on the official AMRUT platform reflects these components.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mission aims to improve the quality of urban services while encouraging cities to adopt more sustainable approaches to water management.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>PMAY-U 2.0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> seeks to address the housing needs of eligible urban households and support affordable housing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It includes support for different housing requirements, including housing construction and affordable rental housing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The programme is important for reducing housing shortages and improving living conditions in urban areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> focuses on sanitation, cleanliness and solid waste management in urban areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It supports measures related to sanitation infrastructure, waste processing and improving cleanliness practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better waste management is also important for reducing urban flooding, pollution and public-health risks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Urban Challenge Fund<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Urban Challenge Fund<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a newer initiative aimed at encouraging states and cities to undertake urban-sector reforms and mobilise investment for urban development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Budget 2025-26 provided <\/span><b>\u20b910,000 crore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the fund, with an emphasis on supporting reforms and investment-oriented urban development.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>National Urban Digital Mission<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-urban-digital-mission\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>National Urban Digital Mission<\/b><\/a><b> (NUDM)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> promotes digital infrastructure and common digital platforms for urban governance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It aims to improve the availability and use of urban data and support more efficient delivery of municipal services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>DAY-NULM<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> focuses on improving the livelihoods of the urban poor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It supports skill development, self-employment, access to credit and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable urban communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>PM-eBus Sewa<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>PM-eBus Sewa<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> seeks to strengthen urban public transport through the deployment of electric buses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can support cleaner mobility, improve public transport availability and reduce dependence on private vehicles.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Planning and Institutional Reforms<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with schemes, institutional reforms are important for improving the quality of urban planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>URDPFI Guidelines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provide a framework for urban and regional development planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Model Building Bye-Laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> support more consistent approaches to building regulation and development control.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NITI Aayog&#8217;s work on urban planning capacity has highlighted the need for stronger planning institutions, improved professional capacity and reforms in town and country planning systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/pm-gati-shakti\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>PM Gati Shakti<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> promotes integrated infrastructure planning by bringing different transport and logistics networks into a common planning framework.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Need for a New Approach to Urban Planning<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India needs to move from a narrow <\/span><b>land-use and master-plan approach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> towards integrated spatial and economic planning.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban plans should consider <\/span><b>employment, economic growth, housing, transport, environment and infrastructure together<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning should extend beyond municipal boundaries and incorporate <\/span><b>regional and metropolitan linkages<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cities should prepare for climate risks through <\/span><b>green infrastructure, climate-resilient drainage, water conservation and low-carbon mobility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ULBs should have stronger financial and administrative capacity to implement development plans.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>GIS, remote sensing, digital mapping and real-time data<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should be used for evidence-based planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Citizen participation should be strengthened so that development plans reflect local needs and improve implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Way Forward for Urban Planning in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adopt integrated spatial planning:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Combine land use with economic, transport, environmental and social planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen ULBs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Provide municipalities with adequate functions, finances, staff and technical capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improve municipal finances:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strengthen property-tax collection, explore municipal bonds and other innovative financing mechanisms, and improve financial management.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promote climate-resilient cities:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Integrate urban forests, green spaces, water-sensitive planning, sustainable drainage and disaster preparedness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encourage public transport:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Develop multimodal transport systems along with safe walking and cycling infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use technology and data:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Expand GIS-based planning, digital mapping, satellite data and urban digital platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promote affordable housing:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Link housing development with transport, water, sanitation, employment and social infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen citizen participation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Make urban planning more participatory and responsive to local communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Develop smaller cities:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strengthen Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and regional growth centres to promote more balanced urbanisation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Modernise planning laws:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Update traditional planning regulations so that they can respond to changing economic, environmental, technological and demographic conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read about Urban Planning in India, its importance, key elements, challenges, government initiatives, technology, the 74th Amendment and the way forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":126820,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[5104,5105,10592],"class_list":["post-126964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-economy","tag-economy-notes","tag-urban-planning","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126964"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126964\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126975,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126964\/revisions\/126975"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}