Lok Sabha Question No. 2769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-08
Subject: Pathways to Amrit Kaal
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2769

## TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 08, 2024

## PATHWAYS TO AMRIT KAAL

## NO. 2769.  SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will  the  Minister  of  HOUSING  AND  URBAN  AFFAIRS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  implement  the recommendation  of the report titled 'Pathways to Amrit Kaal; Envisioning  and  realizing  a  new  future  for  Indian  cities'  of  the  high level committee on urban planning;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps/proposes to take steps to address the issue of rapid urbanisation which is being faced by the cities in the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

(a) to (c)  As per 12 th  Schedule of the Constitution of India, urban planning is the function of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development Authorities.  Government  of  India  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  States through  schematic  interventions/  advisories.  It  provides  financial  and technical support to the States.

The High Level Committee on urban planning has submitted the first draft report 'Pathways to Amrit Kaal: Envisioning and realizing a near future for Indian cities' in April, 2023.

Considering the fast pace of urbanization & population growth, the Ministry of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA),  Government  of  India  has  issued following guidelines/byelaws:

- Urban  and  Regional  Development  Plan  Formulation  and  Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014
- Model Building Bye-laws (MBBL) - 2016

The Ministry, through schematic interventions is working towards strengthening urban planning eco-system. In order to incentivize States to undertake  urban  planning  reforms,  Schemes  for  Special  Assistance  to States  for  Capital  Investment  of  Department  of  Expenditure,  Ministry  of Finance was initiated. The scheme aims to promote efficiency in land-use, sustainable development, affordability and revenue generation using urban planning as a tool.

- i. Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2022-23 Part - VI (Urban Planning Reforms) with an allocation of Rs. 6000 Cr - The reform components included Modernization of Building Bylaws by removing contradictions and optimizing land use, Adoption of modern urban planning tools like Transferrable Development Rights (TDR), Implementation of Local Area  Plans  (LAP)  and  Town  Planning  Schemes  (TPS),  Implementation  of Transit-oriented  Development  (ToD).  Further  States  were  incentivized  for Creation  of  Sponge  Cities,  Removing  Taxation  for  running  the  Buses  for Public Transport.
- ii. Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24 Part - III (Urban Planning Reforms) with an allocation of Rs. 15000 Cr - The reform components included Augmentation of human resources by hiring of qualified urban planners, Implementation of Town Planning Scheme (TPS)/ Land Pooling Scheme, Modernization of Building Bylaws, Promoting in-situ slum rehabilitation, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Transferable Development Rights as planning tool, Strengthening natural ecosystems of urban areas through urban planning, development of waterfronts etc.

A sub Scheme under AMRUT on Formulation of GIS based Master plans for 500 AMRUT cities is at implementation stage. The Sub-Scheme aims at geo database creation and formulation of GIS based Master Plans. At present 461 AMRUT Cities in 35 States are on boarded under the scheme. Draft GIS based Master Plan has been formulated for 355 towns, out of which Master

Plans for 208 towns have been finalized.

Further, a Pilot Sub-Scheme under AMRUT for preparation of Town Planning Scheme (TPS) and Local  Area  Plans  was  launched  in  2018.  The  Scheme aims to bring about planned urban development through adjustment of land parcels and retrofitting of the old city centers.

Under AMRUT 2.0, Scheme for Formulation of GIS based Master Plans has been extended to cover Class-II Towns with population of 50,000 - 99,999. MoU has been signed with National Remote Sensing Centre and Survey of India for creation of geo database.

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