The Gujarat state government has reformed the town planning (TP) scheme to enhance efficiency and transparency. These changes will allow town planners to declare a preliminary scheme within seven months, compared to the previous 12-month average. A newly established Original Plot Approval Committee (OPAC) will ensure plot boundaries remain intact until approval. The process will appoint a town planning officer (TPO) early to accelerate the drafting phase. The scheme proposals will be accessible online to ensure transparency. The reforms reflect Gujarat's influential TP model and invite public input until mid-September for further refinement.
The state government has introduced a new, streamlined town planning (TP) scheme to expedite procedures and enhance transparency in the urban development process. Under this reformed system, town planners can now declare a draft TP scheme as a preliminary scheme within seven months, a significant improvement from the current 12-month average. The urban development department (UDD) has introduced several revisions to accelerate both the drafting and finalisation of TP schemes, following in-depth deliberations. As part of these reforms, the government will establish an Original Plot Approval Committee (OPAC). The committee will actively protect plot boundaries and areas until it secures approval for the preliminary TP scheme. Additionally, officials will prioritise appointing a town planning officer (TPO) immediately after announcing the intention to prepare a TP scheme.
This proactive measure incorporates the TPO's input early in the process, well before the draft reaches the government. This method accelerates the process, cutting the time needed to declare preliminary schemes by nearly 50%. Transparency is a key pillar of this reformed process. Planning authorities will make each stage of the TP scheme publicly accessible through their websites. Furthermore, if the approved draft TP scheme remains unchanged, the TPO will swiftly issue opinions on the final plots, minimising bureaucratic slowdowns. The revised process also includes clearly defined timelines for each activity involved in the scheme's formulation. For example, the new procedures will complete TP road demarcations within a defined time frame following draft approval.
When government land falls under a TP scheme, the authorities will appoint a district-level nodal officer to work closely with the TPO, ensuring coordination and timely completion. Prakash Dutta, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the UDD, highlighted the significance of these reforms. He stated that these reforms mark a significant advancement in the TP scheme preparation process, achieved without the need for legislative amendments. Dutta also highlighted the significance of this overhaul, pointing out that the Union budget acknowledged Gujarat's TP scheme model and encouraged other states to adopt similar frameworks.
To foster public engagement, the government has made a draft of the proposed reforms available on its website, inviting suggestions from the public between September 5 and 15. Additionally, on September 4, Chief Town Planner D.J. Jadeja convened a meeting of key stakeholders. The discussion included representatives from Credai Gujarat, ITPI Gujarat, GICEA, and officials from the town planning and valuation departments, municipal corporations, and other urban local bodies, all of whom deliberated on the proposed reforms and their implementation.
In conclusion, the state's town planning reforms cut preliminary scheme declaration time from 12 to 7 months, enhanced transparency via online access, and improved efficiency through early involvement of town planning officers and the Original Plot Approval Committee. These changes aim to modernise urban planning in Gujarat without legislative amendments.
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