In a significant move to tackle urban sprawl and haphazard growth, Rajasthan's Urban Development and Housing Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra has ordered the creation of a comprehensive multi-purpose plan for a completely new Bhilwara spanning approximately 6,400 acres. The decision, announced on Monday, comes with the simultaneous cancellation of the existing draft zonal plan that was awaiting approval.
Fresh Start for Bhilwara's Urban Landscape
The minister directed the Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) of Bhilwara to prepare and submit the new master plan within the next 15 days. This ambitious initiative is being developed under the guidance of former UIT chairman and BJP member Rampal Sharma and is designed to address the city's urban requirements for the next five decades.
Jhabar Singh Kharra emphasized the critical need to preserve 1,403 acres of valuable government land within the proposed 6,400-acre area. He stressed that development must follow a comprehensive, multi-purpose, and integrated approach rather than proceeding in a piecemeal manner.
Aligning with National Vision and Addressing Past Flaws
The new city development will align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for Modern and Smart Cities and is expected to be executed through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Minister Kharra also highlighted the importance of relocating all government offices together in the new city to ensure secure and efficient governance.
This decisive action comes after several deficiencies were identified in the previous draft zonal plan, which had been prepared under the supervision of Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur. The presence of allegations about attempts to provide undue benefits to certain individuals further necessitated a completely fresh approach to urban planning.
Sustainable Development Through Land Pooling
The development of new Bhilwara will utilize the land-pooling concept, a strategy aimed at promoting efficient land use and sustainable urban growth. Minister Kharra explicitly stated that implementation of the plan must not be random or partial and should carefully consider long-term urban requirements.
Expressing concern over attempts to classify all government land as unusable, the minister called for immediate protective measures for these valuable land parcels. This directive aligns with an order from the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur seat, which underscores the importance of adhering to the master plan and ensuring that zonal development plans conform to it.
A directive letter from the UDH department to UIT Bhilwara noted that substantial financial investments have already been made in the master plan, with additional assistance available under the Central Government's Town Planning Scheme. This comprehensive approach marks a transformative moment for Bhilwara's urban future.
