Town Planners Call for Regional, Transit-Oriented Planning Shift

09 Feb 2026 CW Team

Participants noted that metropolitan regions can drive higher productivity growth when supported by robust institutional frameworks and long-term economic planning. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region was cited as an example where a shift in planning strategy and institutional approach is underway, with preparations for a city-region economic plan aligned to local, national and international priorities.

The conference highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Government of Gujarat for Sanand, Kalol, Savli, Hirasar and Bardoli, which are expected to ease urban pressure on nearby major cities in the near future. Delegates stressed that regional planning should be a core instrument in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, enabling integrated development of urban and rural settlements.

Megacity-region planning was identified as a key tool for defining settlement hierarchies, infrastructure networks, transport systems and service delivery. Existing land-use frameworks such as Rural Rapid Development Formulation (RRDF) planning and cluster development under the Rurban Mission were cited as useful references for metropolitan regional planning.

There was broad consensus on the role of artificial intelligence in city and regional planning, with delegates noting the need to strengthen data availability, integration and analytics. A phased approach was recommended, beginning with data integration and progressing towards modelling, scenario simulation, predictive analytics and policy-aligned decision-support systems.

The conference also called for a rethink in planning for large-scale events, urging planners to view such occasions as opportunities for long-term infrastructure creation, employment generation and institutional strengthening, rather than short-term projects. Participants emphasised moving away from static master plans towards a “living city” approach within a city-region economic planning framework, supported by more effective governance and participatory planning mechanisms.

The 74th National Town and Country Planners Conference concluded with a strong call for a transition towards regional, transit-oriented and technology-enabled planning to address India’s rapidly evolving urban and economic challenges. Experts emphasised the role of metropolitan and city-region planning in enabling high productivity, inclusive growth and long-term resilience, drawing parallels with global city regions such as London, Singapore and Tokyo.Participants noted that metropolitan regions can drive higher productivity growth when supported by robust institutional frameworks and long-term economic planning. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region was cited as an example where a shift in planning strategy and institutional approach is underway, with preparations for a city-region economic plan aligned to local, national and international priorities.The conference highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Government of Gujarat for Sanand, Kalol, Savli, Hirasar and Bardoli, which are expected to ease urban pressure on nearby major cities in the near future. Delegates stressed that regional planning should be a core instrument in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, enabling integrated development of urban and rural settlements.Megacity-region planning was identified as a key tool for defining settlement hierarchies, infrastructure networks, transport systems and service delivery. Existing land-use frameworks such as Rural Rapid Development Formulation (RRDF) planning and cluster development under the Rurban Mission were cited as useful references for metropolitan regional planning.There was broad consensus on the role of artificial intelligence in city and regional planning, with delegates noting the need to strengthen data availability, integration and analytics. A phased approach was recommended, beginning with data integration and progressing towards modelling, scenario simulation, predictive analytics and policy-aligned decision-support systems.The conference also called for a rethink in planning for large-scale events, urging planners to view such occasions as opportunities for long-term infrastructure creation, employment generation and institutional strengthening, rather than short-term projects. Participants emphasised moving away from static master plans towards a “living city” approach within a city-region economic planning framework, supported by more effective governance and participatory planning mechanisms.

Building Material

23 Mar 2026

MAPEI India Celebrates 15 Years of Building Excellence

MAPEI India marks its 15th anniversary, celebrating a journey defined by innovation, trust, and continuous growth. Beginning in 2011 with just four employees and a single manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, the company has evolved into a key player in India’s construction chemicals industry, now employing over 380 professionals across the country. Over the past 15 years, MAPEI India has delivered strong performance with a sales CAGR of 31 per cent. From zero production in its early years, the company shipped 1,71,000 metric tonnes of materials in 2025, demonstrating robust operational capab..

Real Estate

23 Mar 2026

FractoProp Secures SEBI Nod for Ridhama Real Estate Fund

FractoProp, a real estate-focused fund management company, has received registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the Ridhama Real Estate Fund, a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). The approval marks a milestone as the firm expands its platform to offer structured real estate investment opportunities to institutional and sophisticated investors. The fund is targeting a corpus of Rs 50 crore, with a greenshoe option of up to Rs 75 crore, taking the total potential fund size to Rs 125 crore. The Ridhama Real Estate Fund will focus on structured credit ..

Real Estate

23 Mar 2026

Flex Spaces Reshaping Tier-2 Office Markets

India's leading cosmopolitan centres such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, NCR and MMR continue to anchor the office market, but absorption surged by almost 30 per cent to 78.2 million (mn) sq ft in 2025 compared with 2023. Over 40 per cent of this demand was driven by Global Capability Centres (GCCs), whose footprint expanded by almost 50 per cent to approximately 35 million (mn) sq ft. As global uncertainty persists, large international companies regard India as a stable safe haven and are shifting focus from saturated Tier-1 markets to Tier-2 cities. The structural shift is underpinned by governmen..