The Times of India       09.09.2014 

NMC preparing new development plan for Nagpur

NAGPUR: Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has begun preparing a new development plan (DP) for the city. It will replace the existing DP five years before it is due owing to large scale changes that have taken place.

NMC standing committee on Monday approved the Town Planning Department's proposal to establish a 10-member team to prepare the new DP and also funding for the lengthy project. It also approved a proposal to appoint technical consultant for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for mono rail rapid transit system.

Standing committee chairman Narendra Borkar said mono rail's DPR will be prepared in eight months followed by submission to the Central government for sanction of funds. "Centre had not suggested the mono rail. It has been planned after consultation with NIT for giving connectivity to metro rail. NMC is likely to get the project cleared from the Centre," he said.

On the need for mono rail, Borkar said the number of vehicles in the city was increasing every passing day. "Nearly 12.5 lakh vehicles are plying on city roads. City's area has also increased to 275.65 sq.km. Around 1.5 lakh people travel from city to adjoining towns. Population has increased to 25 lakh but only 1.80 lakh people travel in city buses. Mass transit projects are required in view of further growth. Besides mono rail can easily be built on city roads," he said.

NMC planning to introduce the new DP from January 6, 2015. The existing DP came into effect from September 10, 2001, and is valid till 2020. According to the state government norms, the process to prepare new DP has to be started three years before the existing one lapses. NMC will request the government to permit new DP five years earlier citing deletion of reservation lands on large scale by NIT.