Mysuru Development Authority Proposes Major Expansion of Local Planning Area
The Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) has put forward a significant proposal to expand its local planning area (LPA) from the current 519 square kilometers to nearly 1,200 square kilometers. This move, if approved, would substantially broaden the authority's administrative reach over the city's growth and development patterns.
Details of the Expansion Proposal
According to MDA in-charge commissioner K R Rakshith, the authority, which was constituted eight months ago, has held three board meetings. At the most recent meeting last month, chaired by the deputy commissioner, the board formally proposed this expansion. The proposal is now set to be sent to the state government for final approval.
The expanded LPA would cover the entire Mysuru taluk, including Varuna hobli, an area that was not part of the earlier Greater Mysuru City limits. Officials argue that bringing a larger geographical area under a single planning authority would facilitate:
- Coordinated decision-making across different zones
- Better alignment of development priorities
- Standardized planning processes and regulations
Concerns Over Transport Infrastructure
Despite the proposed expansion aimed at enabling more organized and centralized planning, significant concerns have been raised about whether the plan adequately addresses Mysuru's rapid spatial expansion and the pressing need for robust mass transport infrastructure.
When questioned about transport planning, Commissioner Rakshith acknowledged that the authority currently has no specific proposals for mass transport projects to address the city's growing mobility needs. He did note that at the same meeting where the LPA expansion was proposed, private layout projects spanning over 200 acres were approved.
Deputy commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy, who also serves as MDA chairman, emphasized that development is being carried out in accordance with the Mysuru Master Plan 2031, which includes provisions for road infrastructure and transportation planning. He clarified that Mysuru would need to meet certain specific criteria to be considered for a Metro rail project in the future.
Criticism from Urban Planning Experts
Urban planners and real estate consultants have expressed apprehension that layout approvals are being granted without parallel planning for essential infrastructure elements, including:
- Arterial road development
- Ring-road strengthening
- Junction redesign for better traffic flow
- Public transport corridors
- Last-mile connectivity solutions
Real estate consultant Adish Sagar criticized the authority for not finalizing the LPA expansion before the state government extended Mysuru City Corporation limits. He warned that this overlap could lead to confusion between different agencies regarding infrastructure execution and responsibility.
Sagar further cautioned that expanding the LPA would likely accelerate the urbanization of peri-urban areas, increasing freight movement and daily commutes for work and school. Without integrated transport planning, he warned, these areas risk poor connectivity and potentially unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
The consultant suggested that Mysuru's growth could still be steered more efficiently if transport infrastructure were treated as a core element of land use planning rather than as an afterthought in the development process.
