The Gujarat government has established a consultancy firm to address the state’s slow pace in planning and implementing Town Planning schemes. The ‘Gujarat Town Planning Consultancy Company’ will advise various municipal corporations and local bodies on TP scheme planning.
The government has identified 843 Town Planning schemes. However, only 41% have been finalised, and only a few have been implemented. Ahmedabad has the most planned and implemented TP schemes. In the city, 364 TP schemes have been implemented.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has completed 116 TP schemes totaling 158.19 square kilometres, while the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) has completed 248 schemes totaling 394.22 square kilometres.
However, very few TP schemes have been planned in other cities such as Vadodara, Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat, Bhavnagar, and Jamnagar. A lack of resources and qualified personnel has exacerbated the situation, according to state government official.
The company will assist in the planning of TP schemes throughout the state, drawing on the expertise of AUDA and AMC officials. The AUDA board of directors passed a resolution in June, and the state urban development department issued a notification on October 11. The company will also provide consulting services to local governments in other states. Its costs will be determined soon. The company’s registered office will be at AUDA.
The company’s chairman will be the Principal Secretary of Urban Development, and its vice chairman will be the Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad. The company’s managing director will be the CEO of AUDA, while the CEOs of Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, and Gandhinagar urban authorities, as well as the chief of municipalities administration and an OSD from the urban development department, will be members.