Master plan for Baddi region by Oct-end

The comprehensive master plan of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh region will be ready this month.

A consortium comprising the Centre for Environment Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad, and ICRA Management Consultancy Services Ltd, New Delhi, is formulating the plan by undertaking a survey, which will be used as blueprint for the development of the area.

Earlier, the Himachal Pradesh government set up the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) for the planned development of the region.

Amandeep Garg, CEO, BBNDA, said: "The master plan is under formulation for the planned and systematic development of the region. It will act as a blueprint for the development of the area. The plan will take all aspects into consideration, earmark separate zones for industries and housing, and develop commercial sites, apart from preparing layouts for major infrastructural facilities."

The plan will also help in regulating the haphazard industrial development taking place in the area. Also, under the plan, roads will be widened, separate parking places for vehicles will be marked, all the encroachments will be removed.

All the round-abouts will be handed over to firms for landscaping. The total area to be covered under the plan is around 317.5 sq km, for which development will take place in a phased manner.

The pre-draft discussion on the master plan is expected to be held in the last week of October. The consultant will discuss various issues with the administration and the representatives from the BBNDA.

Moreover, the plan will focus on promoting public-private partnerships (PPP) for the development of the area.

"The state government will be reviewing keeping villages of the area out of the proposed master plan and safeguard the interests of the people of the area. Also, it will be liberal in implementing the Town and Country Planning Act for the benefit of the local villagers," Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had said earlier.