Pending TP Schemes Stall Urban Growth In Ahmedabad

In response to a query raised by Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister in charge of the Urban Development Department provided a written statement disclosing that a total of 47 TP schemes in Ahmedabad are currently awaiting government approval. These include two draft TP schemes, 32 preliminary TP schemes, and 13 final TP schemes.

Addressing the timeline of these pending approvals, the Minister revealed that these schemes have been delayed for periods ranging from one month to 9 years and 7 months. Among the preliminary TP schemes, TP Scheme No. 59 (Narol-Vatwa) has been pending for the longest duration — 9 years and 7 months.

Similarly, TP Scheme No. 38/2 (Danilimda-Behrampura West) has been awaiting approval for 8 years and 1 month, while TP Scheme No. 128 (Vatwa-Aslali) has been stalled for 5 years and 3 months. TP Scheme No. 55 (Oganj) has been pending for 4 years and 3 months. Additionally, 16 other preliminary TP schemes have faced delays of one to two years.

Regarding final TP schemes, the Minister noted that 13 schemes are still awaiting approval. Among these, TP Scheme No. 1 (Bopal) and TP Scheme No. 38/1 (Danilimda East) have been pending for 8 months. Other schemes have been awaiting approval for periods ranging from 15 days to 4 months. Furthermore, two draft TP schemes have been pending for 3 months and 2 months, respectively.

The Minister explained that the TP scheme approval process involves addressing various representations and objections from landowners to ensure fair outcomes. As per the 1976 Act, the Authority conducts meetings with landowners, collects objections, and drafts a TP scheme.

This draft is then submitted to the State Government for approval under Section 48 of the Act. The government may approve, reject, or return the scheme after a thorough review. Similarly, under Section 64, after necessary revisions by the Town Planning Officer, the scheme is resubmitted for final approval.

During this process, the government must ensure compliance with legal provisions and address any irregularities. Consequently, no fixed timeline can be established for approving TP schemes.

Delays in TP scheme approvals significantly slow urban development. The lack of approved TP schemes prevents authorities from acquiring reservation plots, leading to delays in providing essential public facilities and infrastructure.

Additionally, when reservation plots remain unavailable, authorities lose a key revenue source that funds development projects. Private landowners are also unable to secure development permissions, preventing construction and overall city expansion.

Despite these challenges, the government stated that it has approved 45 TP schemes in Ahmedabad over the past two years, indicating some progress in addressing the backlog.