High Level Committee recommends all India Urban Planning Service, amendments in MVA Act

Other recommendations include setting up of a “National Urban and Regional Planning Authority” at the national level — as an autonomous organisation — to replace the central Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) and establishing a ‘City Economic Development Council (CEDC)’.

“Secure and safe walkability is the essence of a well-functioning city. Cities are being planned for cars and without consideration for the 42 per cent of people in our country who walk on the dangerous carriageways,” HLC-cum-Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) Chairman Keshav Varma told The Indian Express.

“The emphasis on inclusive city planning highlights the need to move away from car centric planning and towards creation of safe and secure connected walking spaces. We have recommended an amendment in The Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 (MVA) to include pedestrians and cyclists in the definition of traffic and to ensure that all city streets be designed as ‘Complete Streets’. We have also dwelt upon and highlighted the issue of street dog menace,” Varma said.

A Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) — an autonomous and professionally managed organisation — should be established for all major cities of India, the report suggests. Also Metro rail only in cities above 5 million population has been recommended with Metro rail Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), including last mile connectivity.

The report highlighted the example of Punjab stating that it is the first state in India to enforce ‘Right to walk’ for pedestrians. “Under the new set of guidelines, the agencies building future roads and widening existing ones in Punjab will be required to build footpaths and cycle tracks to ensure hassle-free movement for pedestrians. Karnataka has also prepared a draft of regulations to promote unencumbered walking spaces,” the report, submitted in October, said. The report has been recently launched into the public domain.

Low traffic penalties

The HLC while citing the low cases of traffic penalties in the country compared to other countries has recommended revision of penalties in a manner that they have a deterrent impact on ‘recalcitrant traffic violators’ along with strategic management of driving licences.

To ensure entry of qualified planners into the town planning profession at all three levels of government, the committee has recommended professionalisation of the entire urban planning cadre in the country through an “All India Urban Planning Service”.

“This shall be on the lines of the Indian Information Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Indian Engineering Service, etc. In a fast-urbanising country, there is a pressing need to give stature and dignity to the urban planning profession,” said the report. “There is also a strong need to hire urban-economists in City Economic Development Councils and the state governments could tie-up with leading institutions to help them create a pool of capable urban- economists who will help in driving the development of the city’s economy,” the report suggests.

The HLC has also suggested introduction of The Town and Country Planners Bill in the Parliament to facilitate creation of the National Urban and Regional Planning Authority and strengthening of the town planning profession to ensure that qualified urban planners are recruited as part of the All India Urban Planning Service.

“It is a matter of concern that city budgets are often less than 1 per cent of the total city GDP, highlighting the fact that the city needs serious introspection about the ability to provide high-quality, reliable and economically sustainable urban environments,” the report said.

Other major recommendations

— The ‘City Economic Development Council (CEDC)’ has to actively get integrated into the administrative framework and functioning of the local government. The CEDC should not merely be an advisory body but an empowered and integrated organ of the local government, with clear cut roles and responsibilities including economic development strategies, employment generation and skill enhancement.

— Setting up a City Economic Development Mission under the patronage of the Prime Minister. The Government of India is advised to initiate a new City Urban Economic Development Mission under the patronage of the Prime Minister, with an Advisory Council that will be driven by India’s finest business conglomerates and world-class urban planning professionals, both local and global. The Mission could be hosted in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India. The Mission will work closely with government departments to delineate strategies for developing ‘future ready’ Indian cities.

— Setting up of a “National Urban and Regional Planning Authority” to replace the central Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) is urgently required. This new organisation shall spearhead world class professional values and practices in urban planning and guide various states to improve their capacities. Mirror organisations could be set up in the states on the lines of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Singapore.

— Simultaneous planning of Urban, Rural and Regional geographies considering the rapid urbanisation trajectory across the Indian states. In the absence of clear planning guidelines beyond urban areas, unplanned and haphazard growth formation are increasingly common in the majority of the states.

— The HLC has recommended that states should focus on planning and developing compact cities, and a walk to work culture and infrastructure serviced by public transport. The Government of India may consider strong incentives to promote brownfield development. In this regard, the states may be advised to revisit Floor Space Index (FAR) within the city core and prescribe relatively higher FAR in the core city areas while undertaking city redevelopment.