Bhopal Housing Board to develop townships, roads through land pooling:Focus shifts to city growth corridors instead of only housing projects

The Madhya Pradesh Housing Board has decided to adopt the Town Planning Scheme (TPS) model for the first time. The Board will no longer remain limited to constructing houses and complexes on small plots, but will act as an area development agency for regions up to 150 hectares (370 acres). Land pooling and master plan-based development The Housing Board will now develop urban areas on the lines of the Bhopal Development Authority (BDA), by pooling farmers’ land. Development will be carried out as per the master plan, including road networks, commercial sectors and residential blocks. First, master plan roads will be constructed, followed by structured urban development along these roads. Shift from traditional road development model At present, master plan road development is mainly handled by development authorities and the Public Works Department (PWD). The PWD has to go through land acquisition and compensation procedures, which are complex and costly. Other development authorities use land pooling and Town Planning Schemes to acquire land and develop roads and townships. The Housing Board will now follow a similar model. Development aligned with master plan The Board will develop cities strictly as per master plan provisions, including construction of roads under the Town Planning Scheme. “Housing Board will bring in Town Planning Schemes to develop cities as per the master plan. Under this, the Board will also construct master plan roads,” said Om Jain, Chairman, MP Housing Board.