Govt plans to set up high-level expert committee for urban planning

03 Feb 2022 CW Team

By the time of India @ 100, about half the population is likely to be living in urban regions.To prepare for this, orderly urban growth is of vital importance. It will assist in realising the nation's economic potential, comprising livelihood opportunities for the demographic dividend.

For this, the minister emphasised that there is a requirement to nurture the megacities and their hinterlands to become present centres of economic development.

On the other hand, they need to boost tier two and three cities to take on the mantle in the future. It would require them to reimagine their cities into centres of sustainable living with opportunities for all, comprising women and youth.

For this to happen, the finance minister said that urban planning cannot continue with a business-as-usual approach.They plan to steer a paradigm transformation. A high-level committee of reputed urban planners, urban economists and institutions will be created to suggest urban sector policies, capacity building, planning, execution and governance.

For urban capacity building, Sitharaman said that the help will be rendered to the states. Modernisation of developing byelaws, Town Planning Schemes (TPS), and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) will be executed, she said, adding this would encourage reforms for people to live and work closer to mass transit systems.

The Central Government's financial help for mass transit projects and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme will be leveraged, for the creation of action plans and their execution for facilitating TOD and TPS by the states.

For building India-specific knowledge in urban planning and design, and to provide certified training in these regions, the finance minister said up to five existing academic institutions in various regions will be designated as centres of excellence. These centres will be rendered endowment funds of Rs 250 crore each. Additionally, she said that AICTE will result in enhancing syllabi, quality and access to urban planning courses in other institutions.

Image Source

Also read: Centre pushing smaller towns & cities to reform, using grants as incentive

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the media that the government intends to bring a paradigm transformation in urban planning in view of the fast urbanisation in the nation and declared the installation of a high-level expert panel for making suggestions on policy matters, capacity building and execution. By the time of India @ 100, about half the population is likely to be living in urban regions.To prepare for this, orderly urban growth is of vital importance. It will assist in realising the nation's economic potential, comprising livelihood opportunities for the demographic dividend. For this, the minister emphasised that there is a requirement to nurture the megacities and their hinterlands to become present centres of economic development. On the other hand, they need to boost tier two and three cities to take on the mantle in the future. It would require them to reimagine their cities into centres of sustainable living with opportunities for all, comprising women and youth. For this to happen, the finance minister said that urban planning cannot continue with a business-as-usual approach.They plan to steer a paradigm transformation. A high-level committee of reputed urban planners, urban economists and institutions will be created to suggest urban sector policies, capacity building, planning, execution and governance. For urban capacity building, Sitharaman said that the help will be rendered to the states. Modernisation of developing byelaws, Town Planning Schemes (TPS), and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) will be executed, she said, adding this would encourage reforms for people to live and work closer to mass transit systems. The Central Government's financial help for mass transit projects and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme will be leveraged, for the creation of action plans and their execution for facilitating TOD and TPS by the states. For building India-specific knowledge in urban planning and design, and to provide certified training in these regions, the finance minister said up to five existing academic institutions in various regions will be designated as centres of excellence. These centres will be rendered endowment funds of Rs 250 crore each. Additionally, she said that AICTE will result in enhancing syllabi, quality and access to urban planning courses in other institutions. Image Source Also read: Centre pushing smaller towns & cities to reform, using grants as incentive

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Infrastructure Energy

06 Apr 2026

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

Real Estate

06 Apr 2026

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..