Concerns raised over major changes in EP of Development Plan

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The state’s Urban Development Department (UDD) on Thursday granted final approval to the excluded parts (EP) of the city’s development plan. A 200-page notification was published in this regard.

Experts studying the detailed provisions of the notification on Friday have raised several concerns, pointing to what they describe as ‘shocking’ changes. According to them, several important reservations have been removed by the UDD. In addition, the width of 22 roads, which were part of earlier development plans, has been reduced further instead of being widened as expected. In some cases, the alignment of roads has also been altered, creating fresh challenges for the municipal corporation.

The city’s revised development plan, covering the original city limits, extended areas, Cidco-Hudco areas, Satara-Deolai, and Chikalthana MIDC, was approved and published on April 15, 2025. However, the state suggested substantial modifications in the EPs. Following this, objections were invited for the EPs, which remained pending with the UDD for nearly a year.

The development plan consists of 10 sectors, with reservations and roads planned across 40 to 90 different land parcels in each zone. However, a majority of these reservations have reportedly been removed in the final notification, according to experts. The official gazette has not yet been published, and the municipal corporation is awaiting both the gazette and detailed maps.

Town planning experts have raised concerns that without such reservations, comprehensive development of the city may become difficult.

22 roads where municipal objections were ignored

During preparation of the development plan, a Proposed Land Use (PLU) map was first prepared and published, after which 8,855 citizens submitted objections. The municipal corporation had observed that the width of 22 roads in the city had been reduced and the then administrator had passed a resolution objecting to this change, recommending that the road widths be maintained as per the previous development plan.

Hearings were also conducted on these objections. However, in the final approved plan, the width of the 22 roads has still not been restored and has instead been kept reduced. In some cases, road alignments have also been shifted on one side.