The Ghaziabad Master Plan 2031 aims to increase urban cover by 4% in the city, while the corresponding increase in green cover will be around 15%. The development in an urban area in Ghaziabad indicates that its share will rise from 187.92 sq km to 208.8 sq km, while the corresponding green cover will grow from 28.18 sq km to 31.2 sq km. The Master Plan 2031 preparation is in full swing and is likely to be achieved in a month. Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) Officials said once the master plan rolls out, around 40% would be urbanised, of the 522 sq km land in the city. The geographical area remains the same, but the proportion of urban cover has been increased from 36% to 40%. This will make way for more housing and civic infrastructure, among other amenities. According to norms, 15% of the land will have to be reserved for green area, said Asheesh Shivpuri, GDAs’ chief architect and town planner (CATP). The Master Plan 2031 covers plans for Modinagar, Loni, and Ghaziabad city. The plan will be finalised within a month and will be taken for approval by the GDA board, said Shivpuri. However, the city should have more areas under green cover in the new plan, which will come into effect from next year. Till 2021, the current master plan will be in place, environmentalists said. There is an urgent requirement to enhance the green cover in the city, which is already staggering under high pollution levels, said Akash Vashishtha, a city-based environmentalist and lawyer. Ghaziabad city is listed among 16 nonattainment cities with high pollution levels in Uttar Pradesh. Cities are declared non-attainment cities, if they consistently do not reach the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for more than five years. Image SourceAlso read: Delhi Master Plan 2041: DDA receives over 12k suggestions, objections