Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 13: The comprehensive 10-year development strategy for areas under the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) – the much-anticipated Master Plan – is yet to be finalised, despite several years having passed since the process began.
The plan, which outlines the land use and developmental blueprint for Mangaluru South, Mangaluru North, Mangaluru, and Moodbidri Assembly constituencies, remains incomplete. It is meant to serve as the roadmap for regulated development and urban expansion for the next decade.
Target was 2021
MUDA’s currently active second Master Plan was revised in 2011 and was scheduled to expire in 2021. A new Master Plan, extending up to 2031, should have come into effect by then. However, the pandemic slowed down progress, and MUDA officials attribute the delay to technical issues faced by the consultancy firm appointed to lead the process. Even now, the draft report awaits completion due to similar reasons.
How long until implementation?
About 85% of the new plan has reportedly been completed. This includes the base mapping and documentation of current land use patterns. The state government had directed MUDA to submit the draft by December last year. However, even as of May, the plan remains unfinished — a reflection of the system’s inefficiency.
There is now uncertainty about how many more years it will take for the plan to be fully implemented, even after its submission.
Why the Master Plan matters?
The Master Plan plays a crucial role in ensuring systematic growth of Mangaluru city and surrounding areas under MUDA’s jurisdiction. It identifies zones for agriculture, open spaces, and green belts, while enabling infrastructure development without harming the environment. The plan is expected to assess 10-year growth trends and highlight future requirements such as roads and other basic amenities. It will also provide a comprehensive picture of land availability, land classification, and valuation for urban planning purposes.
Once MUDA submits the draft, it must first be approved by the government. A 60-day window will then be opened for public suggestions and objections. These will be reviewed before sending the final version back to the government for approval. Only after this process will the new Master Plan come into effect. If preparing the report has already taken so many years, the timeline for its implementation remains uncertain.
Submission soon: MUDA
Work on the new Master Plan for MUDA is nearly complete. Some discussions and clarifications have taken place with the government regarding additional technical inputs. Once the draft is submitted and approved, it will be open to public feedback before final implementation, Sadashiva Ullal, chairperson, Mangaluru Urban Development Authority.