Indian Planning Terminology 'A Mess'

2 April 2006 - 9:00am

New Delhi architect Sudhir Vohra outlines problematic and antiquated municipal land use laws in India.

"Suddenly, the term 'mixed land use' has become popular as have some other urban planning terms such as 'right of way', 'road width', etc. While government officials are taking pains to elucidate on what these terms mean and how they would be interpreted, the Courts are pronouncing judgements that explain the meaning of standard urban law terms."

"Our municipal laws are in a mess. The fact that the Supreme Court had to define the terms 'to build', 'to erect', 'building use' points to the abysmal state of affairs. Adding to the problem is the fact that town planning has not kept pace with growing demands made on our cities and urban centres."

Source: Express Estates, March 31, 2006
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