In a significant administrative shift aimed at streamlining urban planning at the district level, the Haryana government has empowered the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Department with greater authority over the constitution of District Planning Committees (DPCs) and the preparation and notification of District Development Plans (DDPs). The move is expected to bring clarity to planning jurisdictions, accelerate approvals, and ensure more coordinated urban development across the state.

“The Urban Local Bodies Department will finalise and issue notification for constitution of the DPCs and Metropolitan Planning Committees for the areas concerned in a time-bound manner,” an order issued by AK Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Town and Country Planning Department, stated, according to a report by The Tribune.

The order further said draft District Development Plans would be placed before the respective DPCs and Metropolitan Planning Committees for “consideration and approval”.

At present, the Town and Country Planning Department is the nodal agency for preparation of development plans across the state under the provisions of the Haryana Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Regulated Development Act, 1963. However, the Act does not provide for preparation of District Development Plans.

Officials said the latest order would help clearly define the jurisdictions of various departments involved in urban planning in Haryana. The move is also seen as being prompted by recent instances where authorities sought development plans for entire districts such as Gurugram and Faridabad, the Rai block of Sonepat district, and one or two blocks of Palwal district.

The Haryana Municipal Act, 1973, provides for the constitution of District Planning Committees to consolidate plans prepared by panchayats and municipalities and to prepare a draft development plan for the district. Similarly, the Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, provides for the preparation of a District Development Plan for a metropolitan area as a whole through the Metropolitan Planning Committee.

“Since the ULB Department is the administrative department of the Act of 1973 and Act of 1994, it has the statutory authority for preparation and notification of the DDPs,” the order clarified.

It further stated that the ULB Department would coordinate with the authorities concerned for preparation of area-specific plans by incorporating the required parameters and would finalise notifications as per the provisions of both Acts.