History of Urban and Regional Planning in India.M A IV SEM ( Magadh University)

paper 13, unit-1

By Dr. Bhawana Nigam

Dept. of Geography, A N College,

Patna

Introduction:

• the origin of regional planning in India

was the rapid urbanization and

industrialization that India faced after

independence in 1947.

• Along with this urbanization, regional

disparities increased within rural and

urban areas mainly in terms of

concentration of economic

opportunities.

• there was a need to have

comprehensiveness in plans (in terms of

physical, social and economical aspects),

• improved planning techniques for better

quality of plans and set more realistic and

attainable standards.

• There was no concept of integration of

economic planning with physical planning

and it was then realized that this

consolidation was imperative.

Regional planning over the years

• Initially regional planning was regarded

as an extended form of town planning.

For example Mohanjodaro and

Harappa.

• According to this view, it was only an

extension of urban planning and its

concepts, both in theory and concepts. a

regional plan for a region was like a

master plan for a city.

Cont….

• In the later years it involved preparation of

a plan for optimal movement of people,

goods and services between producing

and consuming areas or region.

• Thus, transport planning and planning for

traffic patterns on a regional basis became

an important element of a regional plan.

• This integration could be inter or intra

regional depending upon the pattern ofintegration.

The concept of Decentralization:-

• Subsequently, regional planning started preparing

comprehensive regional development plans

integrating and coordinating the physical, social

and economical components.

• In the following years came the concept of

decentralization which was a consequent of over-

concentration of industries and urbanization in one

urban center.

• It developed as a shift from river valley development

to decentralization or dispersal of industries, and then

to devolution of administration of planning.

Regional Planning Policies and Programmes – The Five Year Plans

• The period 1947-1951 encounteredproblems of rehabilitation andsettlement of refugees and displacedpeople from Pakistan.

• This initiated certain programmesdirected towards urban settlements inwhich a number of refugeetownships were built providingemployment opportunities inindustries, trade and commerce.

Cont……

• The first and second Five Year Plans(1951 – 1961) emphasized onachieving urbanization andindustrialization.

• The Third Five Year plan (1961 –1965) involved the preparation ofcomprehensive development plansfor major metropolitan centres,rapidly growing industrial towns,resource regions and river valleyregions.

Cont…

• It provided for balanced regional development

between urban and rural areas and between

areas of high-low economic concentration.

• The Fourth Five Year plan (1966 – 1971)

accentuated the restriction of growth of large

urban centres like Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi

with restructuring of local areas and

strengthening and reorganizing the local

administration to enable them to cope up with

growing problem of rapid urbanization.

DECENTRALIZATION.• Decentralization was the thrust area in the Fifth

Five Year plan (1971 -1976) and the subsequent

plans.

• Here the provision was made for promotion of

development of smaller urban centres near the

primate city to ease the pressure of increasing

urbanization.

• It provided necessary support to the industrial

townships undertaken by the central government

undertakings to make them more sustainable

Other Types of Plans

• The Third Five Year plan provided thepreparation of regional plans for somepriority areas. The regions specifiedwere:

• The Rajasthan Canal Region

• The Rihand Region

• The Bhakra-Nangal Region

• The Dandakaranya Region

• The Damodar River Valley Region

• The central government provided 100percent financial assistance to thestates that took up these projects.

• The other type was sub-plans for hill,coastal and tribal areas.

Some challenges in regional planning• In India Planning Commission looks after the 5-year

Development plans since 1952 ,formulated by thecentral Government.

• These plans functions with the cooperation of bothcentral and state Government.

• These plans have set objectives which is developedby the planning commissions for the nation

• But it is the responsibility of state government thatthe plans are successfully executed.

• The problems occur when the state governmentchanges and they try to modify or alter thesedevelopment plans according to their profit motives,neglecting the real issues and regional growth.

Reference

• National Digital Library

• E-pathshala

• Regional planning- R C Chandana

• Regional planning in India- Chand and Puri.

• Thanks.