Author: Dr Natraj Kranthi
In India, Master Plans (also referred to as Development Plans) are statutory plans usually prepared by the local or development authority for a future period of 20 years in line with the Town Planning Act of the respective states. Planning for urban areas generally involves addressing many spatial challenges such as urbanisation and its related impacts. These may often comprise the spontaneous growth and proliferation of slums, increasing of air pollution and water contamination, ecological imbalance, traffic congestion, shortage of housing, inadequacy of physical and social infrastructure, etc. Master plans are comprehensive development plans with a focus on improving various…