The Times of India 20.11.2013
Lucknow Municipal Corporation's development plan for city addresses growing needs
LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Municipal Corporation on Tuesday met officials from Jal Nigam, Jal Sansthan, Lucknow Development Authority, Metro Cell, Public Works Department, Traffic, UP Housing and Development Board, along with some NGOs with a presentation on the revised city development plan and ask for their suggestions on the same. Municipal commissioner R K Singh chaired the meeting.
GOI's guidelines of 2012 mandate revision of every city development plan (CDP) according to the changing urban scenario. Lucknow's first CDP was made in 2006 which forecasts the growing needs of people for infrastructure facilities till 2025. But with time, the city has undergone some drastic changes in terms of housing, transportation, urban lifestyle, business expansion and influx of people from nearby towns.
Therefore, much longer term planning is required to accommodate the growing demands of people till 2040. Officials said since the earlier CDP was first of its kind, it lacked detailing on various aspects like transportation, roads, environment, traffic, water supply, solid waste management etc. The revision work of CDP has been assigned to the Noida based SENES Consultant India Private Limited.
The firm gave its first presentation to the panel on the draft on revised CDP. Daya Handa, the urban planner and in-charge of the project said, "It is the first time we would give ward-wise detailing on the needs and supply of various facilities like water, roads, sewerage, drainage, solid-waste management etc. The plan would address the present gap in supply along with the demand that would be generated by 2040."
She said they have discussed three sectors, namely urban environment, heritage and conservation and traffic and transportation in detailed manner for the first time in CDP. The plan also suggests construction of bus and truck terminals on outer roads like Sitapur, Sultanpur, Hardoi and Faizabad Road so that heavier vehicles can move on the outer periphery without disturbing the city's traffic.
Many topical issues like rampant encroachments, illegal colonies, crisis management, economic development, needs of urban poor, street-vending and modern means of transport like metro would be included in the revised plan. Additional municipal commissioner P K Srivastava said, "Whatever gaps have been left in the first phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the revised plan will attempt to address all those shortcomings with special impetus on urban planning for the next 25 years."
Municipal commissioner has asked all agencies to provide necessary data and information on the key sectors assigned to them for speedy drafting of CDP. The participants suggested that an integrated information system on basic infrastructural facilities can be developed by the nagar nigam so that all developmental works being carried out in various wards can be mapped accurately.
The CDP work would complete by next 6 months, said Handa.
