PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN FRINGE: BHOPAL

Abstract

This report is an empirical study which has been conducted to understand the degree to which Urban fringe development can influence the growth of a city. This study tests the effect of unplanned growth in southern fringe of Bhopal by measuring the extent to which it is misbalancing the coordination between different land uses. The rapid and random expansion of urban centers along their peripheries is a typical phenomenon of urban landscape in developing countries in general and in India in particular. The emergence of fringe zone with its complex problems of adjustments in between rural and urban ways of life has led to serious land use problems-loss of agricultural land, unauthorized urban sprawl, high land values, speculation in land and related problems and has assumed great topical importance but sadly remained a neglected area in urban research. While a large amount of research has been conducted on the measurement and prediction of impact of fringe development on various land uses, there has been also a systematic trial to study the causal effect for such misbalance. This report gives an 'up to date' picture of the fringe areas of Bhopal which lack development and infrastructure. These areas have fast changing environmental and socio socio-economic conditions brought about by urbanization. In Bhopal lots of developmental activity is going on in fringe areas, in lack of proper planning and implementation and thus conditions in these areas are degrading rapidly. In the light of this fact, for improving the living conditions, the thesis focuses in drawing planning strategies for the development of urban fringe of Bhopal city considering land-use pattern, physical infrastructure improvement and suitable legislation and land use policies.