Urban and regional planning in India faces several issues and challenges. According to the document, planning is a joint responsibility of central and state governments, though land is a state subject, giving states a prominent role in implementation. The planning process involves preparation of state and regional perspective plans, district/metropolitan development plans, and master plans. Institutional issues include the need for statutory timeframes for plan formulation, implementation, and review. The document proposes amendments to state planning acts and restructuring planning institutions, and identifies major issues like lack of coordination, inadequate implementation and enforcement, and need for inclusive and integrated planning that addresses economic and environmental sustainability concerns.

1. Urban and Regional Planning:
Issues & Challenges
S. B. Honnur,
Director of Town & Country Planning,
Government of Karnataka

2. Planning scenario
Planning practices in the country indicates that planning
objectives, policies and strategies at national level are
basically formalised in the Five Year Plans which are
economic and social in nature
 According to Item 20 of Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution of India the Concurrent List in
the, social and economic planning is a joint
responsibility of the Central and State governments.
 However, land being a State subject, the role of the
State Government becomes more pronounced in the
implementation process.

3. PROCESS OF URBAN AND REGIONAL
PLANNING
• Preparation of State Perspective Plan
• District Development Plan / Metropolitan
Region Development Plan
• Master Plan
• Schemes / Annual Plans

4. Contents of Perspective Plan
• Eco sensitive zones of the state
• Boundaries of all the urban and rural
settlements of the state
• Mapping of transport and communication
networks
• Mapping of natural features
• Industrial, mining and related area
• Disaster Zoning

5. Contents of Regional Plan
• Physical setting, settlement pattern
• Infrastructure resources
• Transport
• Environment and sustainability
• Regional Policy and development strategy
• Regional Land use
• Disaster Management Plan
• Implementation Strategies and Management
Structure

6. INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
Planning function is a continuous process and the
Planning Department’s work continues from:
plan preparation to plan processing, plan
enforcement, plan implementation, plan detailing, plan
review and then plan formulation and so on.
The plan formulation, implementation, monitoring and
review exercises must be statutorily prescribed in the
State Acts and completed within the specified time-
frame and schedule.
In the context of these requirements institutional set-up
has a vital role.

7. Amendment to the Act
• The Karnataka Town & Country Planning
Act, 1961 needs to be revamped as per the 74th
Constitutional Amendment as the Karnataka
Urban and Regional Planning Act.
• The Model Urban and Regional Planning Act
prepared by TCPO may be the basis for bringing
amendment to the State Town Planning Act

8. INSTITUTIONS IN THE RESTRUCTURED
PLANNING PROCESS
• State Urban and Regional Planning Board
• Metropolitan Development Committees
• District Development Committees
• Urban Local Bodies

9. Need of a Renewed Planning System: Major
Issues
• Urban development issues specially in newly formed states and backward
areas
• Need for planning system uniformity in the country
• Problems in planning practices and requirement of coordinated working
between Departments/Authorities
• Issues in implementation of plans and projects by the States/ UT’s in
legal, funding and decision making aspects,
• Issues related to promoting rapid urbanisation and climate change

10. Need of a Renewed Planning System
Major Issues
• Lack of focus on economic aspects of plan implementation / budgeting while
preparing land use development plans etc.
• Need for inclusive Planning, people participation and planning for the urban
poor,
• Integration of Peri-urban areas in the planning process,
• SEZ’s or industrial development’s impact on spatial and urban development
especially when their location is near to large cities.
• CRZ policy and Coastal management in case of coastal cities.
• Special issues in urban development in hill states.
• Provisions for Affordable housing

11. Issues in implementation / enforcement
of Master Plan
• The present proposals of Master plans are land-use oriented
and lack integration across sectors. i.e. Land use with
transportation , infrastructure, ecology & environmental
issues and socio-economic needs
• Heritage planning is ignored due to lack of funds by the
Authority
• Strict enforcement mechanism to curtail unauthorized
developments

12. THANK YOU