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POLICY REVIEW
accessibility which reduces land use interactions and serving the contemporary
automobile dependency. maximization of positive ones; needs. There are shortcomings
Denzwik and Saaty (1978) (iii) minimization of public on the part of land-use Master
were the first to make an fiscal costs; (iv) maximization Plans due to the process
effort to define it in terms of social equity; and (v) very followed for the same, which
of the components such as broadly, maximization of does not place citizen at
high-density settlements, quality of life. Smart growth the centre and give more
less dependence on at the core has compact city importance to procedural
automobiles, clear boundary development while avoiding aspects (Nallathiga 2016).
from surrounding area, the ‘dough nut’ pattern of As a result, land-use plans
mixed land use, diversity suburbanization. However, in India no longer serve as
of life, clear identity, social it follows different spatial the instruments of change
fairness, self-sufficiency of patterns that provide optimal to meet the challenges of
daily life, and independency amount of development sustainability. Land-use
of governance (Kaji, 2004). depending upon the ground Master Plans of Indian cities
Central to the concept is the conditions e.g., multiple nuclei do not emphasize much on
sustainability or sustainable or poly-centric development the GHG emission reduction
development agenda that in if suburban centres are through appropriate plan
assumed importance after provisions, strategies and
the Brundtland Commission well existent, or ‘transit actions. There is a strong need
Report (1987). It is held that oriented development’ if to revise the purpose, process
the objectives of Compact transit corridors have already and elements of land use
cities are (Petersen, 2002): (a) been existing (Newman and master plans so that they serve
to control urban sprawl and Kenworthy 1999). as instruments of change in
reduce vehicle kilometres Land use planning and GHG emission reduction and
by influencing the spatial development regulation provide for climate change
structure of locations in the impacts.
urban environment; (b) to Land use planning in Indian
support a high transit share; cities has been framed The Development Control
and (c) to keep walking as a techno-bureaucratic Regulations (DCRs), which
and cycling (the most tool to meet the statutory determine the level and
environmentally friendly requirements. Land-use intensity of development,
transport modes) attractive. Master Plans are prepared are also similar to land use
without much vision of the planning as they are rigid and
“Smart growth” is a general future (except, forecasting inflexible to the development
term for land use practices that based on the land space needs of urbanization as
create more accessible land requirements) and lack any well as the sustainable
use patterns which reduce strategic orientation. They development of the cities. In
the amount of travel needed are losing relevance when the India, DCRs of several large
to reach goods and services development pressures are far cities prescribe artificially
(Litman, 2003). According to greater than that of the time low development density
Nelson (2001), smart growth when they are prepared; the i.e., FSI or FAR, which only
is a set of policies designed developments on other fronts aids the horizontal expansion
to achieve five goals: (i) (technological, economic, of cities due to urbanization
preservation of public goods; financial and political) make pressures. However, such
(ii) minimization of adverse plan as rigid instruments not expanding cities need more
April, 2023, Volume 24. No.1 - SHELTER 45
