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.