The Pioneer 30.07.2013
UT admin gearing up to finalise master plan
The Board of Inquiry would examine all the objections and suggestions sent to the UT Administration and would accordingly propose amendments (if required) in the draft of UT Master Plan.
The Board would comprise of 7-8 members including UT Chief Architect, city”s senior architects, representatives of MoUD among others.
Notably, the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) after studying the draft of UT Master Plan had asked the UT Administration to constitute a Board of Inquiry to look into the objections and suggestions on the draft and to finalize the Master Plan.
TCPO, a technical arm of Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) had also appreciated the UT Master Plan Committee for drafting a comprehensive UT Master Plan—Vision 2030 for the union territory of Chandigarh.
Giving 30 days time, the UT Administration had invited objections from the city residents against the proposed draft of UT Master Plan this month. The draft Master Plan for Chandigarh (CMP) 2031 has been approved by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil.
When contacted, UT Chief Architect Sumit Kaur said, “The process to constitute a Board of Inquiry has begun. The Board would examine the objections and suggestions submitted by the residents on the draft of UT Master Plan—Vision 2031.”
“We have been receiving the suggestions on the draft of UT Master Plan. People have submitted their suggestions regarding building bylaws, parks, traffic problems among others,” she added.
Based on detailed studies of the existing ground realities including detailed SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threat) analysis, active engagements with various stakeholders, site visits, feedback from various departments of the Administration, presentations to the Administrator”s Advisory Council, High Powered Coordination Committee at New Delhi, the draft of Chandigarh Master Plan 2031 provides a vision for development and future planning of the city.
The entire area of 114 sq km comprising the union territory of Chandigarh has been covered in the Master Plan and includes 70 sq km of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the original plan prepared by Le Corbusier and Phase 3 Sectors besides the area under the periphery.
In view of the limited land available for future growth and infrastructure needs, and to maintain its low rise, green and spacious character, the holding capacity of the landlocked city has been capped for a population of 16 lakh.
The Master Plan Committee has put forth recommendations on improving sectors like transport, parking, education, health services among others in the city.
The Master Plan has also proposed big projects including Paryatan Bhawan in Sector 17, State of the Art Convention Centre (Nehru Centre for Performing Arts) in Sector 34, Museum of Knowledge (MoK) in Capitol Complex Sector 1, Modern Terminal Market near Sector 39, Integrated Warehousing Complex in Industrial Area, Modernized Transport Nagar, Housing projects in southern sectors and wildlife corridor between the reserved forest area and the regulator end of the Sukhna Lake.
