Journal of Global Resources

Volume 4 (01)January 2018
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 89-98

13
URBAN LAND USE PLANNING IN ALWAR CITY: PROBLEMS AND STRATEGY
Alok Chauhan1 and Aneesh Kumar Mishra2
1Assistant Professor in Geography VM Open University, Kota (Rajasthan), India
2Investigator, Town and Country Planning Organization,

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India
Email: alokres@gmail.com
Abstract: Urban centres are of fundamental importance not only for providing home to more thanfifty percent population but also for their pivotal role in socio-cultural life, economic activities,
administration, and governance. Here, urban land acts as a base for growth and development.
The issue of land use and planning is more and more important in any part of the world.
Accelerated urbanization in last decades, especially in developing countries has not only lead toincrease in the number of urban centres very fast, but also the number of their population.
Consequently, lots of problems (e.g., increasing crowdedness, lack of houses, underdeveloped
infrastructure etc.) have appeared, which can have a great impact on the urban land use andplanning too. These unfavourable consequences and sustainable development require a more
effective urban land use and urban land use planning policy. In this direction, thorough analysis ofurban land use and critical review of urban master plan of Alwar city’s in India has been made forbetter understanding of urban land use and underlying processes in developing countries and topromote the activity of urban planners. The present study is based on primary data as well as
secondary data. The primary data has been collected for better apprehension of the present land
use categories, structure, and related problems and issues. The study reveals that people’s
awareness and their active participation in urban land use planning is necessary. Researchmethodology adopted for the present work is a blend of qualitative and quantitative techniques
using primary and secondary data. Apparently, the research methodology consists of‘explanation’ and ‘evaluation’ phases.
Keywords: Urban Land, Land Use, Planning, Population Growth, SlumIntroduction
Rapid urbanisation and consequent growth of population in Indian cities is putting enormouspressure on existing land use and structures causing several problems like housing congestion,slums, overcrowding, traffic jam etc. and environmental issues related to pollution, hazards, anddegradation of city health. All these consequences have far reaching impacts on overall healthand liveability of the city. Therefore, problem of land use requires adequate planning and control
to ensure harmonious development and functional efficiency of the city. Land use planning is an
art as well as a science. It neither predicts ‘what will be’ nor claims ‘what shall be’ but provides animage of ‘what is likely to be’ (Gallion and Eisner, 1986) to facilitate and encourage the optimal
growth of dominant functions, strengthening the intra-urban linkages and providing the elbow
room for spatial growth (Buch, 1987). Land use plan sets forth policies intended to encourage up
gradation and preservation of the existing city and to provide an orderly, efficient, and logicalextension of urban development in predominantly undeveloped area surrounding the city (Archer,1990). Its main objective is to create prerequisites required to accomplish a type of land use,which is environmentally sustainable and compatible, socially desirable and economically sound(Chapin, 1995). There have been several policies and regulations regarding the use of urban landin Rajasthan, but these are fragmented in terms of their objectives, orientation and institutions.
These regulations and policies are inefficient, inconsistent and conflicting with each other.
Consequently, cities of Rajasthan including Alwar are facing several problems and issues relatedwith urban land use and morphology. Rapid urbanisation and consequent growth of population inIndian cities is putting enormous pressure on existing land use and structures causing several
problems like housing congestion, slums, overcrowding, traffic jam etc. and environmental issues
89related to pollution, hazards, and degradation of city health. All these consequences have far
reaching impacts on overall health and liveability of the city. Therefore, problems and issues
related to land use requires adequate land use planning and control to ensure harmonious
development and functional efficiency of the city. Land use planning is widely offered as an
appropriate tool to drive sustainable development (Godschalk, 2004; Awuah, K., Hammond, F.,
Booth, C., & Lamond, J. 2014).
Study Area
Alwar City is located on 27º 32' 30’’ N latitude and 76º 37’ 30’’ E longitude in North-eastern
Rajasthan. The city covers an area of 48.14 sq. km and possesses population of 3,15310 persons(Census, 2011). The Aravalli Hills traverse the town in the west and south-west. Alwar is wellconnected to New Delhi and Jaipur by railway and roads and is also easily accessible from
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The city has a historic-cultural background and has been asignificant centre for tourism, trade and commerce, education and health facilities.
Objectives
Major objectives of the study are:
• To highlight major land use problems and related issues, and• To recommend proposals and measures for proper land use planning of Alwar.
Methodology
The present study is based on primary data as well as secondary data. The primary data has
been collected through comprehensive field survey using Base Map and Google Earth Imageries
and conducting formal interviews for better apprehension of the present land use categories,
structure, and related problems and issues. Comprehensive field survey has been carried out
along the major roads and streets to examine and identify components of the city such as thelocation and structure of landmarks and activity nodes. The field survey also helps in functional
analysis to examine the relationship of activities among the various land uses and to identify
major land use problems and issues. : The basic information on history, population, land use,
industrial and infrastructural facilities, i.e., transportation, public utilities, health, education andother socio-economic facilities have been obtained from different government departments at thestate and municipal level including Rajasthan Oriental Research Library, Alwar; Government
Museum, Alwar; Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner and Alwar; PWD, TCPO and Nehru District
Library, Alwar. for the analysis and interpretation. The field survey was also include conducted
through personal interviews and questionnaires from commercial developers, citizens, politicians,bureaucrats, academics, engineers, landowners, employees, industrialists and planning
authorities to understand the problems and issues related to land use and planning as well assuggestions were also invited regarding future requirement of the Alwar city. Master Plan of thecity has been used as secondary data.
Urban Growth: Historical Perspective
The city did not expand and remain confined within the boundary wall till 1940, because people
required security from the external threats in the form of frequent wars and fear of wild animals.
Consequently, the pattern of urban land use and its structure was also accomplished accordingly.
The houses were built side by side along narrow zigzag lanes and streets. Commercial structuresdeveloped on ground floors of the residential houses having three separate chambers. After
Independence, the requirement of people changed considerably. Though the layout of roads was
already laid down in middle part of the city during the Vinay Singh’s period, but growth of urban
land use and its structure could take place in this very part only after the Independence, whenincreased immigration required accommodation of immigrants. Consequently, several plannedand semi-planned colonies were developed. These developments differ that of old walled town.
Size of Houses decreased considerably with increasing number of nuclear families. Expansion ofvarious functions occurred to fulfil requirement of the rural people also. Commercial areas dealing
in agricultural tools and machines, grain and vegetable markets have developed along the major
outgoing roads to facilitate rural people. Further, it is the requirement of industrial labourers due towhich the urban land use and its structure developed nearby the industrial areas giving rise tourban sprawl.
90

Urban Land Use and Morphology: Problems and Issues
Alwar city is witnessing rapid growth of population on account of development of commerce andindustries. Regular and standardised planning has become less effective since it is carried out
without incorporating changing needs of growing population and socio-economic structure of thecity. Consequently, seriousness of problems associated with haphazard and imbalanced growthof existing urban land use and its structures is rising rapidly. Some of the major problems andissues are as follows: Rising cost of land and accessibility of urban land in Alwar has become aserious issue. Land value in Alwar is found highest in middle part where urban amenities andinfrastructures are developed at best. It decreases on both sides, i.e., towards densely built innerpart and sparsely developed outer part. It is also found relatively high at major cross-roads andalong Delhi and Jaipur roads in outer part. High land value has severe repercussions in the formof vast number of vacant plots amidst residential colonies, reduction in size of land plots as wellas in size of built structures and increase in adoption of vague aesthetic and architectural style.
The dominant bourgeois class in seek of cheaper land is settling down far and wide across thecity boundary. Consequently, built-up area of city is expanding horizontally engulfing cheaper
agricultural land of outer parts.
The growth of urban land use, to a great extent, has been occurring rapidly towards MIA ineast along Delhi road. In future, it may have detrimental effect on both people and industries. At
that time, the foremost solution will be carved out in the form of shifting of industries to anotherlocation. This would require huge amount of money and concerted efforts right from acquisition ofland for new industrial site to development of appropriate infrastructure therein. The process ofshifting will definitely hamper functioning of industrial units and there will be no surprise if
multitude of units gets shut down. It will lead to loss of employment and tax money affecting theoverall health of the city.
Further, development of MIA and high land value in city has induced growth of urban
sprawl on Delhi road which is characterised by low density, leapfrog development, and unlimited
outward expansion. Availability of cheap agricultural land free from municipal taxes on mainoutgoing roads added by increased automobile are attracting investment of money on land andstructures and where no prohibiting or controlling laws are in operation. Leapfrog and low-density
pattern of development has also encouraged misuse of land as vast amount of agricultural land isleft vacant or unused. Examples from other cities indicate that if this type of haphazard anduncontrolled growth persists for years then slum formation may occur in outermost part of the city.
The city does suffer from misuse and abuse of land heavily. Residential houses incommercial areas of Road no. 2, Pratapbas, Jublibas and at major crossings characterised byhigh land value prove uneconomic to take the profitable returns of the land. Commercial
structures built by UIT at various locations have not been used properly because of their ill
condition and high rent. Consequently, many of these structures are lying vacant and unused.
Many shops around Hope circus running on petty rents in structures of the decade 1960s and1970s developed by UIT are now proving uneconomic. Further, these structures need to be
restructured and modified so as to make them more profitable and aesthetic. Location of small
scale and household industries particularly telghani and khandsari industries in Kedalganj area
has now become unsuitable. These industries suffer from lack of space and obstruct the desirable
privacy and peace of the residents by causing constant noise and nuisance in the surroundings.
Nevertheless, of construction of new wholesale grain and vegetable markets on Delhi road, many
shopkeepers at Ghantaghar vegetable market and Kedalganj grain market are not willing to shift
their establishments from this high populated area to less densely populated area due toprospects of high demand. These shops appear to be misfit as the surrounding area ischaracterised by dominance of retail shops. Due to lack of sufficient land, it causes traffic jam
often and has prevented natural expansion of retail commercial establishments.
The old crowded and haphazardly grown inner zone associated with central commercial
area is characterised by winding streets and lanes and two or three storeyed dilapidated
structures. Administrative areas are located in scattered manner due to which effective andimmediate coordination lacks among different departments of the governments. Further, many
government offices are running in small rented buildings in different residential colonies due to91

lack of sufficient developed land for administrative purposes. Majority of educational institutions
are absolutely devoid of the facilities like playground, library, and open spaces. Parks andplaygrounds developed in residential colonies except in high income residential areas of middle
part in the city are in very poor condition due to lack of maintenance. Even in many colonies inouter part, facility of parks and playgrounds does not exist at all. Here, vacant land and open
spaces are utilised as playgrounds. Instances of overlapping use are very common in manycolonies. The condition of urban amenities and services, i.e., sewage and drainage facility,
sanitation and drinking water supply and other housing services is very poor. Sewage in most partof the city flows through open drains without proper treatment. These open drains remain cloggedwith garbage all-round the year due to poor maintenance and care and in time of heavy rainfall
causes overflow of waste water on roads. Likewise, system of solid waste collection and its
proper disposal is not up to the mark. Consequently, mounds of garbage are observed here andthere all over the city. There is no proper landfill site. The collected garbage is dumped in low
lands along Delhi bypass road close to residential areas of NEB. Lack of sanitation facilities anduneven supply of drinking water is a major problem for the residents of the city. About 8 percentof the total households are still using pit latrines, 55 percent water closet latrines and 19 percent
other types of latrines. About 17 percent of the total households have no latrine facility. Suchhouseholds are located in vicinity of the Aravalli, in villages and newly semi-developed colonies infringe areas. Residents of inner part are facing acute shortage of water as the timing and durationof water supply is not fixed as well as pressure of water also remains very low. Many households
are absolutely deprived of tap water and rely on public hand-pumps only.
The slum and squatter settlement is a problem in the Indian cities as in Alwar. These
areas are characterised with very high density of population and structures, high intensity of landuse, lack of open space, poor housing, lack of urban amenities and services including safe
drinking water supply and sanitation, and unhygienic environmental conditions. Though
percentage of population and land under slum areas is considerably low in Alwar city but its
growing nature is a cause of concern for planners. Further, old slum areas and new slum areas
having different characteristics and problems need specific approach of planning for each to copeup with their problems. A few slums are also developing near the old village sites without any
planning. The city is lacking the aesthetic magnificence and green trees not only in the inner zoneof the city but very much in the outer zone. Natural vegetation in the form of shrubs in foothillareas is rapidly diminishing due to increasing encroachments and grazing activities. Further,houses are losing their architectural beauty on account of stark negligence and process ofrestructuring and modification. In outer part, high land value and high cost of construction hascompelled people to adopt vague architectural style. Trees are very limited in number, mostly
confined in Old Industrial Area, mandis, and in nurseries, as the part has evolved on agriculturalland. Introduction of rural ways of life in urban area ‘rurbanisation’ has been rapidly increasing
which reflect in rural dwellings, domestication of milch animals, scattered cow-dung, etc. For allthese reasons, city looks unclean.
Forests in Alwar hills act as lungs for the city. Besides natural vegetation, it is a home ofseveral types of wild animals and possesses historical Bala Fort and temples of Karni Mata andHanumanji. An old adage ‘quilaupar baarishna tale (heavy rainfall is inevitable if clouds areroaming over the fort)’ is enough to signify its importance for the Alwar city. Nevertheless, ofreserve status of these forests, human activities have grown rapidly in the name of tourism eversince good metalled roads have been constructed in these forests. It facilitates regular movementof police and Army to their outposts at Bala Fort, pilgrims of Karni Mata fair, and rural people ofvillage Ravan Dehara and the villages located west of Alwar hills. If such human interferences goon unbridled, then it will have great impact on city’s environmental and ecological balance infuture. Nevertheless, of comprehensive Master Plan and other development plans, Alwar lacks
the standardized city planning based urban development. Sectoral plans have not been
synchronized with the objectives of the master plan. Its major cause may be attributed to illegal
developments and powerful nexus of corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, land mafias, andbusinessmen due to which plan is moulded at grounded level during its implementations andexecuted accordingly to fulfil their petty greed. Sometimes particular plan implemented on paper
only.
92

Strategy and Recommendations for Land Use PlanningLand use planning in Rajasthan has become regulatory, rigid, static, and influenced by vested
interests, while it should be facilitative, flexible, dynamic, and participatory in nature (Rogers,
2000). Consequently, Alwar is facing crucial problems like poor development of socio-economic
facilities, lack of resources for development of infrastructures and basic urban amenities, far andwide growth of structures due to large differences in land values, and growth of urban sprawl
along Old Delhi road near MIA. These problems are outcome of poor and ineffective
implementation of Master Plan and land use planning practices by the Urban Local Bodies(ULBs). The reasons frequently cited for deficiencies on the ULBs are their poor revenue baseand dependency on the financial transfer from the higher levels of government (Mohanty, et al.,2007). Keeping in view the preceding analysis of various land use problems and related issues,
an urban planning for Alwar city has been suggested as a modified ‘Development Plan’considering the Master Plan of the city. It is modified because the Development Plan does notmake changes in urbanisable area and adopts the same as proposed in the Master Plan. The
Master Plan has been prepared for a population of 5 lakh persons which stands close to theprojected population of the city in 2031 A.D., i.e., 524,652 persons.
Expansion of city Boundary
To restrict growth of urban sprawl, the municipal boundary must be extended up to Bhaktalki
chowki on both sides of the Old Delhi road. This area is already included in the Master Plan as
potential urbanisation area. Consequently, enforcement of municipal laws and taxes would
certainly lead to hike in land prices in this area. The result of increase in land prices would reflect
in retardation in leapfrog structural growth outside the current municipal boundary anddevelopment of unused and vacant land in fringe areas of the city. It would underpin urban local
bodies (ULBs) in better governance practices ascertaining balanced growth and development of
the city.
Bulk acquisition of urban land
Bulk acquisition of urban land by government agencies for development schemes may greatly
help to maintain the price of residential land at a level suitable for housing for dominant middle
and low-income groups. Further, this sort of acquisition would eliminate the possibility of‘inequitable’ distribution of land and housing opportunities as well as development of ‘insufficient’land use patterns arising out of tendency of private developers not to provide adequate
infrastructures like roads, parks, schools, hospitals etc. This tendency of private developers is
attributed partly to their limited resources and financial constraints and partly to gain maximum
profit from every bit of land instantly. In addition, under government’s control housing for low
income group can be ascertained at the low level of land prices which can be adjusted with theprofits realized from the sale of land for other types of uses, i.e., industrial, commercial, andresidential for the high-income group.
Hierarchical Cellular Structure of Planning Units
A planned city for an environment of convenience should have a hierarchical cellular structurewith nuclei to contain essential facilities and services at different levels, i.e., neighbourhood,community, and zonal level (Master Plan-2021 of Delhi, 2007). The Development Plan for Alwar
city also adopts hierarchical cellular structure including four tier planning units. These planning
units are based on population criterion where in provision of facilities and services increases
towards higher level of units. At the lowest level of planning unit, housing cluster, i.e., a group of
150-200 families, will be facilitated by a primary/middle schools, park and playgrounds, and a few
petty shops for day to day needs. Grouping of housing clusters comprising population between
4,000 to 5,000 persons shall form ‘neighbourhood’ unit with senior secondary schools, healthclinics, local shopping centres and comparatively bigger park and playground. Residential
Planning Area comprising population 15,000 to 20,000 persons will have an additional facility of adispensary, police out-post, community hall, religious buildings etc. Planning zone comprising
population between 70,000 to 1 lakhs will have higher level of facilities and services like hospital,family welfare centre, child and maternity home, police station, recreational clubs, socio-cultural
facilities, night shelter, library, gymnasium, multi-purpose hall, district shopping centre, community
park, sport centre, bus stand, waste water treatment facility, parking spaces etc.
93Restructuring of Planning Zones
Looking at the irrational and spontaneous categorization of planning zones in Master Plan, theDevelopment Plan restructures planning zones of the city as Old City Inner Zone, Middle Zone,
Outer Zone, MIA Zone, and Peripheral Control Zone. These zones have been demarcated on thebasis of multitude of different factors including similarity in historicity of areas, land use andmorphological characteristics, existing population size and trend of population growth, socioeconomic characteristics of the society, and considering the existing problems. These zones may
prove more useful for planning purposes against the naive planning zones of the Master Plan.
Though major problems are almost same in all zones, but magnitude and intensity of various
problems differ greatly from one zone to another. Besides, each zone has its own particular
problems and solution of these problems needs distinct and separate planning practices andmethods. For example, the Old City Inner Zone is the oldest and densest part of the city whichneeds decentralisation of functions, redevelopment and reconstruction as well as renewal of old
dilapidated houses, proper use of vacant buildings, slum improvement, conservation ofmonuments along with renovation and improvement in existing basic urban amenities andservices. But on the other hand, the Outer Zone which is in emerging developing stage and hasvery low density of population required densification and proper channelization of growth anddevelopment through appropriate selection of location of various functions and economic
activities as well as through strengthening of infrastructural facilities. These zones have been
demarcated on the basis of multitude of different factors including similarity in historicity of areas,
land use and morphological characteristics, existing population size and trend of population
growth, socio-economic characteristics of the society, and considering the existing problems.
These zones may prove more useful for planning purposes against the naive planning zones ofthe Master Plan. Though major problems are almost same in all zones, but magnitude andintensity of various problems differ greatly from one zone to another. Besides, each zone has its
own particular problems and solution of these problems needs distinct and separate planning
practices and methods.
Digital Mapping of Urban Land and Functions
Urban land use planning requires assessment of resource potentiality, its availability andconsumption in the urban areas. This can be done through developing Urban Information System(UIS) and through preparation and integration of thematic maps using satellite data and GIS
techniques. This would consistently help in calculation of changing land requirements, analysis ofland use change, land use suitability, carrying capacity, environmental sensitivity, urban sprawl
and determination of composite functionality index to setup various amenities such as
educational, medical, recreational etc. The digitized maps of different urban land uses will provide
a framework to planning processes.
Need of Community Participation
The people of Alwar city has to be mobilized to participate in the urban land use planning
process. This will provide them a sense of citizen participation which is an important factor for any
planning scheme to be successful (Oduwaye, 1998). This requires a tremendous task involving
awareness and training campaigns to light the sense of being urbanites, making people’s
participation mandatory through legislation and mobilisation of public opinion. Lack of active
public participation in preparation and implementation of the Master Plan and other development
schemes is the most significant reason for their limited success. It is the people who can identify
their problems and also prioritize for addressal better than the government officials. The role oflocal community in outlining development plans including rehabilitation, renewal, and up-gradation
programmes for the inner part, and in process of land acquisition for further growth anddevelopment in outer areas must be ensured. This will help in mitigation of development conflicts
arising during the execution of the various plans. Each section of the urban society has specificproblems and interests. Here, the role of planning authorities should be to synchronize all
problems into coherent development plans while satisfying needs of the society. But, formalinterviews surfaced out the incapability of harmonization and bias of the planning authorities,
while sketching development plans. Hence, proper training and sensitization of planning
authorities in this direction is of utmost importance for planning process. A monitoring committee
consisting of local community should also be set up for regular monitoring and implementation ofdifferent development plans. Further, participation of local community decreases the possibility of94

corruption and any modification in plans favouring interest of particular person or section of thesociety.
Land Use Plan: Proposals
Planning recommendations have been made to encourage socio-economically efficient allocationof urban land such that the urban development could take place in a proper manner at minimum
resources. Projected population in 2031 A.D. is close to the horizon population of the Master Plan
(2021), hence, no additional land for future urban development of the city is required.
Residential Land Use: The Development Plan adjusts the projected population throughdensification of less density areas and construction of vertical buildings in the newly developing
areas. The Development Plan proposes density ranging from 100 to 250 persons per ha. Highdensity (150-250 persons per ha) residential areas have been proposed along major roads andnear important work centres like mandi, OIA, Hope circus, and Kedalganj, while comparatively
low density (less than 100 persons per ha) areas in fringe areas and off the major roads. A largepart of excessive land under administrative use along Delhi bypass road and land under
agricultural land north of Shivajipark has also been earmarked for residential land use. Growthand development should be vertical rather than horizontal. For this, development of individual
plots should be discouraged by motivating and convincing people for adopting group housing. It
will conserve rich fertile agricultural land and will increase density of population to be optimal. In
increased density scenario, it would be easier for government agencies to provide infrastructural
facilities to a comparatively large number of population at minimum resource base and financial
investment.
Commercial Land Use: The trade and commerce are the backbone of urban society where
movement of people and commodities provide the economic base for the development of the city
(Singh, 2002). Hence, the commercial land use planning has been adopted to diversify thecommercial activity in the city through developing neighbourhood and district shopping centres,
shopping complexes, modern stores in commercial centres as well as renewal andredevelopment of central commercial areas. District shopping centres have been provided at
Mungaska, Kalakua, Bhawani Top circle and at Lohiaka Tibara to prevent unplanned growth ofcommercial land use. Besides, land for goodowns and warehouses have been earmarked along
the Delhi bypass road. These areas will be well linked with wholesale commercial area and easily
accessible from residential areas. Further, a few suggestions for proper development ofcommercial land use are as: The shopping centres should be as such to meet the needs of the
future population, future parking spaces, and other relevant activities. In shopping centres,
compartmentalization of activities providing a range of choices is needed.
Mixed Land Use: Besides commercial and residential land use, health and educational land uses
are evolving gradually along the Old Delhi road between Delhi circle and Lohiaka Tibara. Hence,
looking at the ongoing changes, the area has been earmarked for mixed use to achieve bettersynergy between workplace, residence and transportation.
Industrial Land Use: This is well confined in two specific areas, Old Industrial Area (OIA) andMatsya Industrial Area (MIA). OIA is falls under municipal boundary, while MIA a few km east of
the municipal boundary. The industries running nearby the Hope circus should be transferred in
OIA. For this, the land lying vacant and unused land can be used. The industrial growth in the city
has almost stagnated since the shifting of NH – 8 approximately 60 km away from the city andsubsequent growth of new industrial centres at Bhiwadi, Bahror, and Shahjahanpur.
Consequently, the economic base of the city has weakened badly. Hence, it is necessary to
attract entrepreneurs to establish new industries at MIA. The road connecting Delhi, Jaipur andAgra should be widened enough for rapid mobilisation of resources and people.
Transport Planning: The Development Plan proposes construction of Jaipur bypass road from
Bhaktal ki chowki on Old Delhi road to Burja on Jaipur road. It would pass through MIA as well as
villages of Goondpur and Bhajeet. Further, a link road from Bhaktalki chowki to Delhi bypass roadhas been proposed. These roads will help in vehicular decongestion on Old Delhi road while
fostering uninterrupted and smooth vehicular movement. Besides, bus and truck terminals have95

been proposed at Mandimor and Lohiaka Tibara, respectively. In case of Alwar city, there aremany problems and issues related to transportation among which – i) reduction in need of travel,ii) shifting of mode choices towards non-motorised transport and public transport, iii) development
and maintenance of roads, and iv) strengthening institutional capacity and developing
accountability mechanism are very much significant. The population of the outer zone makes
frequent visits to commercial areas of the inner zone. Development of mixed land use and work
places nearby the residential areas of the outer areas is one of the ways by which reduction in
frequency of travel can be ensured. It will also help in reduction of vehicular traffic and willencourage people to opt non-motorised modes of transport. Alwar city immediately needs thecompletion of proposed bypass and link roads to control the movement in the outer zone of thecity. This will minimise the traffic pressure in the middle as well as inner zone of the city. The
improvement of road conditions includes widening of roads in the inner zone as far as possible,
maintenance of roads in the inner, middle and, especially, in the outer zone. Parking areas should
be developed in areas particularly adjacent to the market areas of the Hope circus, Kedalganj,
and Krishi Upaj Mandi and near major work places.
Land Use Plan: Proposals for Other Related Issues
The water supply may be improved by Government initiation through restructuring of networking
and installation of tube-wells in the grid system. It will need a huge renovation with financial
assistance through different financial corporations. Sanitation facility is very poor, especially in the
inner zone of the city. The Government of Rajasthan has made a step towards an integrated andcoordinated project with assistance from Asian Development Bank under the Rajasthan Urban
Sector Development Investment Programme (RUSDIP). But, implementation of the programme
has yet to be taken place. The beauty of the urban living exists in the open space, parks andgardens. These are immediate requirements in the middle and outer zones of the city, where aregulation with controls may be initiated through legislation by the Government for the aesthetic
beauty and healthy environment. The razed building sites in the inner zone may also be used todevelop small parks. However, such development needs crucial and strict decisions.
Urban Slums
Slums are one the major problem of Indian cities including Alwar city. In Alwar city, problems ofslum areas differ greatly from slums of the old city to slums of the new city. In slums of the oldcity, there is need to provide secure source of safe drinking water. This can be done byaugmenting capacity of water supply system as well as overhauling poor pipelines andmachineries. Further, increase in duration of water supply, installation of public taps and handpumps, prohibition of electric pumps are also equally important to ensure supply of safe drinking
water to urban poor of these slums. These slums also need public toilets and lavatories as
residents defecate in open area along the foothills. The old dilapidated unused houses in the
inner part may be used to decongest these slums. Slums in the new city are mostly developed as
squatter settlement by illegal occupation of land and encroachment. Hence, these slums areunauthorized, and, therefore, unable to access to urban amenities and services. Besides
provision of basic urban amenities and services, there is need to provide security of tenure aswell as financial assistance to make their temporary katcha houses into their own pucca houses.
Further, settlements along roads, specially along the Narumarg and Old Delhi road, should be
provided alternate land for their relocation as roadside activities of residents of these areas
hampers traffic often as well as produces a blighted landscape on both sides of roads.
Planning for Historical Sites and Places
Alwar possesses a number of sites and places of historical, architectural and cultural importance.
These need not only preservation but also concerted efforts for their beautification so as tomaintain their dignity, excellence, and historicity intact to attract more and more tourists. Due topaucity of funds and interest, large historical monuments have not maintained properly as havebeen seen in case of Bala fort which has turned into ruins. These monuments are presently usedfor various purposes, i.e., City Palace for administrative purpose, Vinay Vilas Palace foreducational purpose etc. and thereby lose their heritage value by changes accorded in them.
Historical places including Bala fort, cenotaph of Fatehjang, Tripolia, Vinay Vilas Palace etc. need
immediate attention considering its historical design and significance. For such sites, specificconservation plan of historical sites must be included in the Master Plan. Built heritage assets of96

the city must be identified and documented through a survey, mapping, architectural plans ofindividual buildings, visual photography, etc. The surroundings of the historical monuments will
have to be developed and commercial and transport activities should be better managed. The
task of conservation of monuments and development of their surroundings may be given to
private developers by making mandatory provision of community participation at local level.
Urban Environmental Problems and Planning
In the absence of adequate measures taken to protect the environment, urban development andexpansion has resulted steady deterioration of the city’s environment resulting in adverse impact
on land, air, water, soil and forest. It is for this reason that the city of Alwar is included in the 50
most polluted urban centres of India, where level of solid particulate matters (SPM) and SO2 arefound critical (Khullar, 2008). Though major industrial areas, MIA, lies outside of the cityboundary, but its location on wind way helps to affect the city. Major pollution generating
industries include stone and marble cutting and polishing industries, chemical industries, metal
based industries and forest based industries. The metal based and Telghani industries in Hopecircus area produces imperceptible noise pollution along with huge amount of solid waste
scattered here and there in mounds. Besides, inadequate and poor sanitation, sewerage andsolid waste disposal services leading to open defecation, mounds of garbage and overflow of
garbage laden sewerage on roads enhances environmental complications.
The inner part is facing problem of urban decay due to increasing number of dilapidated
and obsolete structures. Most of these houses represent Rajput-Mughal style of architecture.
Inner city renewal programme may check further decay and conserve these structures by
restoring the historicity of the inner part. In outer part, poorly developed infrastructure subsequent
upon sparse growth of structures has led to increase in incidences of social crimes, i.e., theft,murder, robbery, gambling etc. In such an environment, people always remains under deep
psychological pressure and stress. The urban environment in these areas may be improved byproviding street lights, unrestricted supply of electricity, patrolling of police, and increasing thenumber of police out-posts. Increase in human interferences in reserved forests of the Alwar hills
has been affecting flora and fauna. It is need of the hour to conserve these forests; otherwise
city’s environmental and ecological balance will certainly fall in peril in future. For this, a replantation scheme covering the foothill areas may improve the existing condition. Further, any
development activities in these areas should be environmentally as well as ecologically viable andfriendly. The development of green belt as envisaged in the Master Plan as well as in theDevelopment Plan needs immediate implementation on priority basis along the major roads andin peripheral areas. It will improve aesthetic beauty as well as ecological balance of the city.
Conclusion
Land use problems and issues in Alwar city can be mitigated through inculcating suitable
modifications in the Master plan incorporating peoples’ needs. Land use planning strategy should
include expansion of city boundary, bulk acquisition of urban land, hierarchical cellular structure ofplanning units, restructuring of planning zones based on socio-economic and historical factors,
GIS based mapping of urban land and functions, and Need of Community. Various componentsof Master plans like residential, commercial, mixed and industrial land uses, transport planningetc. can be modified for timely execution of Master Plan. Besides, proposals for other related
issues including urban slums, planning for historical sites and places, urban environmental
problems and planning should also be incorporated in comprehensive Master Plan. The role oflocal community in outlining development plans including rehabilitation, renewal, and up-gradation
programmes for the inner part, and in process of land acquisition for further growth anddevelopment in outer areas must be ensured. This will help in mitigation of development conflicts
arising during the execution of the various plans. During formal interviews, each section of theurban society has come up with their own specific problems and interests. Here, the role ofplanning authorities should be to synchronise all problems into coherent development plans whilesatisfying needs of the society. But, formal interviews also surfaced out the incapability ofharmonization and bias of the planning authorities, while sketching development plans. Hence,
proper training of planning authorities in this direction is of utmost importance for planning
process. A monitoring committee consisting of local community should also be set up for regularmonitoring and implementation of different development plans. Further, participation of local
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community decreases the possibility of corruption and bribery and any modification in plansfavouring interest of particular person or section of the society. Hence, people’s awareness andtheir active participation is very much required for success of urban planning ensuring sustainable
development of the city.
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