The historic city of Gaya in Bihar is grappling with severe urban planning challenges as residents continue to wait for a modern master plan, with the last such blueprint dating back to the 1960s. The delay has transformed the city into what locals describe as a concrete jungle, depriving nearly six lakh residents of basic amenities.
The Expansion That Changed Everything
According to former municipal corporator Lalji Prasad, a significant turning point came in 2015 when the Gaya Municipal Corporation area witnessed a dramatic six-fold expansion. The municipal boundaries expanded to include revenue villages from town and Manpur blocks, along with 24 villages from Bodh Gaya block, eight from Belaganj block, and four from Paraiya block.
This massive incorporation resulted in the municipal area ballooning from 50.17 square kilometers to 308.31 square kilometers, creating unprecedented challenges for urban planning and service delivery.
What a Master Plan Should Deliver
A proper master plan is supposed to specify crucial urban elements including road widths, open spaces, water and electricity supply systems, street lighting, sewerage networks, and rainwater management systems. It should also designate spaces for children's playgrounds, primary schools, health centers, community halls, libraries, marketing complexes, green areas, sports complexes, parks, bus stops, fire services, and facilities for senior citizens and disabled persons.
Kusum Kumari, a resident of Katari Hill Road, expressed her frustration: "The unplanned growth and mushrooming of concrete structures of unimaginative shape and size gives the city a rustic look completely out of sync with the requirements of decent living."
Financial Strain and Administrative Challenges
The scale of the problem becomes evident in the municipal statistics. Official records show more than 80,000 registered holdings in the municipal area, but knowledgeable sources estimate the actual number, including unregistered holdings, is closer to one lakh.
The financial situation of Gaya Municipal Corporation reveals the strain of managing this expanded area. The GMC earns approximately Rs 19 crore from holding tax, with another Rs 3 crore coming from revenue generated by corporation assets and miscellaneous sources like fines.
However, the municipal commissioner Kumar Anurag revealed that the corporation's expenditure stands at Rs 120 crore - nearly six times its tax revenue. The deficit is managed through grants and other committed allotments. Sanitation alone costs the corporation over Rs 50 crore annually.
Light at the End of the Tunnel?
When questioned about the long-awaited master plan, Municipal Commissioner Kumar Anurag provided some hope. He confirmed that a Delhi-based company is working on the Detailed Project Report, which has already cleared four of its seven required stages.
The remaining three stages are expected to take about one more year to complete. The commissioner assured that all stakeholders would be consulted before notifying the final master plan. He also clarified that a separate master plan is being developed specifically for Bodh Gaya.
As Gaya continues its wait for proper urban planning, residents hope the new master plan will bring much-needed relief from the chaotic growth that has characterized the city's development over recent decades.
