Lok Sabha Question No. 2137 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Unplanned Urbanisation
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2137

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2026

## UNPLANNED URBANISATION

## NO.  2137.   SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:

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

- (a) whether the Government maintains data on the number of statutory and  census  towns  in  the  country  that  are  growing  without  an approved Master Plan and if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has undertaken any study to identify the reasons for a large number of urban areas growing without statutory Master Plans and if so, the key findings thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that a significant share of urban growth is occurring outside the boundaries of statutory towns, often in the absence of planned urban services and development regulations and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to address this issue;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  examined  the  implications  of  such unplanned  growth  for  urban  infrastructure,  land  use  and  service delivery and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  advisories  to  States  for constituting planning authorities to cover urbanising areas as well and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (e): As per 12th Schedule of the Constitution of India, urban planning including preparation of Master Plans/Development Plans and constitution of planning authorities are the function of State Government/ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ Urban Development Authorities and are governed by the respective  State  Town  and  Country  Planning  /  Municipal  laws.  The challenges of urbanization vary from State to State and city to city, based on the geographical and physiographical conditions. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States through schematic interventions/ advisories.

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India has issued Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014 (https://mohua.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/URDPFI%20Guidelines%20Vo l%20I(2).pdf) for adoption by the States/Union Territories for regulated and planned development.

Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation  (AMRUT) was launched on 25 June 2015 in selected 500 cities (485 cities including 15  merged  cities)  and  towns  across  the  country.  The  Sub-Scheme  on Formulation  of  GIS  based  Master  plans  for  (>1  Lakh  population)  500 AMRUT  cities,  has  been  undertaken  under  AMRUT  for  geo  data  base creation and GIS based Master Plan formulation. At present 461 AMRUT Cities in 35 States are on board with an approved outlay of ₹ 408.94 Cr. Draft GIS based Master Plans have been formulated for 404 towns out of which Master Plans for 288 towns have been finalized.

AMRUT 2.0 was launched in the year 2021 in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/  cities.  Under  the  Mission,  States/  Union  Territories  (UTs)  are empowered to select, appraise, propose and implement projects. Under AMRUT  2.0,  a  sub-scheme  for  Formulation  of  GIS  based  Master  Plans covering Class-II Towns with population of 50,000 - 99,999 is placed. Geo database for 91 cities and draft Master Plan for 56 cities has been created and additionally, another 63 cities have finalized the Master Plans so far.

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