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Berhampur city all set to get a master plan

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Source : The Hindu Date : 29.06.2009

Berhampur city all set to get a master plan

Staff Reporter

BDA organises a workshop on the preparations for Comprehensive Development Plan

 


State provides Rs. 35 lakhs in first phase

Berhampur had its last master plan in 1969


BERHAMPUR: After a long gap of 40 years, Berhampur city is set to get a master plan for its planned development.

The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) organised a launching workshop on Saturday on the preparations of Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for a greater Berhampur. The CDP is to be prepared by the Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO), the technical advisory body of Central Ministry of Urban Development. The new master plan would be Geographical Information System (GIS)-based. It would depend on remote sensing data provided by satellites as well as the ground level data collected through surveys.

This workshop was attended by the chief planner of the TCPO, J.B.Khirsagar, director of State Town Planning Surendra Behera, chairman of the BDA, Sarat Ranjan Patnaik, chairpersons of Gopalpur Notified Area Council (NAC), and A.Janaki Ram, chairperson of Berhampur municipal corporation Siba Shankar Dash. Representatives of all sections of society, various departments of the administration, police officials and social organizations who are stake holders to this new master plan took part in this interactive workshop to provide suggestions.

The preparation of the CDP would cost around Rs. 1,09,75,000. The State Government, which would bear the cost, has provided Rs. 35.50 lakhs for it in the first phase.

It may be noted that Berhampur, a major trading and cultural centre had its last master plan way back in 1969. This master plan envisioned the urban growth and required basic amenities for a population of over two lakh persons by the year 1986. The present CDP however would provide urban development plan for the area now under the BDA which includes areas of urban bodies like Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chatrapur and 139 villages. This would be part of the greater Berhampur with a vision of development for next 30 years. The CDP would comprise a total area of 317 square km having a population of 5,13,760 persons. It is expected that the CDP would be ready in 18 months.

According to Mr Patnaik, the BDA had tried to have a master plan for the city in 1998 and 2004. But due to various reasons it could not materialize due to funds crunch and other reasons. Ultimately the TCPO was provided the contract for the CDP. During his address in the workshop Mr Khirsagar listed out the potentials of development of the area under the BDA.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 06:22