The Indian Express              11.07.2013

Patil nod for draft Master Plan 2031, suggestions invited

With Chandigarh being a landlocked city, the draft of the Master
Plan has suggested ways for judicious use of land. Stress has been laid
on maintaining the original character of the city, while ensuring
development for the years to come. The entire 114 sq km area, including
70 sq km of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the original plan prepared by Le
Corbusier and Phase 3 sectors, besides the area under the periphery, has
been covered in the plan.

Housing

The draft Master Plan recommends redensification of identified
pockets of single storey, low density original government housing of the
city. It advocates population dispersal and housing strategies
addressed through an inter-state regional plan to accommodate the
projected population.

A holistic housing policy framework has been recommended to
ensure that needs of all the socio-economic sections of the population
are catered to. Judicious use of limited land, group housing in place of
plotted development for the pockets identified for future housing,
along with compulsory provision for the economically weaker section in
all housing schemes to avoid emergence of slums in the city, has also
been proposed.

Traffic

The Master Plan has recommended a people centric, efficient and
reliable multi modal mass rapid transport system. It has proposed 12
green corridors running north to south, connecting various areas of
Chandigarh.

Stress has been laid on retrofitting the existing road network
and last mile connectivity. Providing passage to pedestrians and
cyclists is also part of the plan.

Periphery

As many as 17 vacant pockets have been identified in the
periphery and land use for each pocket has been proposed to meet the
requirements for housing, institutions, commercial, social and physical
infrastructure taking into consideration city’s compatibility with
adjoining land use and ongoing projects of the Chandigarh
Administration. Development plans for each village will be made.

Commercial areas

The Master Plan recommends that the concept of SCOs/SCFs be
dispensed with. Planning and execution should be undertaken for shopping
centres and space be rented/leased out on the pattern of shopping
malls. On both sides of the Dakshin Marg, a commercial-cum-institutional
area will be developed. The facades of markets will be cleaned up. The
development of Sector 17 will be completed as per the original plan. It
is proposed that government offices in Sector 17 will be weeded out.

Environment

Recommendations have been made to reduce carbon footprint through
enhancement of green cover and afforestation. Stress will be laid on
ensuring preservation of open spaces by declaring land use inviolable,
adoption of green building concepts and solar passive designs, fast
tracking Solar City concept to harness solar energy, reduce, recycle and
reuse policies for solid waste management and water management. The
flora and fauna of the Sukhna Wild Life Sanctuary will be preserved
through declaration of an eco-sensitive area and wild life corridor
linking the sanctuary with the Sukhna forest.

Objections sought

Objections and suggestions have been invited from city residents
on the Master Plan. It has to be submitted within 30 days, after which
the draft Master Plan will be taken into consideration by the Chandigarh
Administration through a board of inquiry or hearing. It is available
on the website chandigarh.gov.in.

Copies of the draft Master Plan are also available at offices of
the deputy commissioner and municipal commissioner, central libraries in
Sector 17 and 34, Panjab University, Chandigarh College of
Architecture, Le Corbusier Centre, SDM offices in Sector 17 and
Industrial Area, and block development and panchayat offices. The
copies can be purchased from the office of the senior town planner,
Department of Urban Planning of UT Secretariat, Sector 9, for Rs 6,000.