April 04, 2002
‘32’
MAPPING OF RAPIDLY GROWING CITIES AND METROPOLITAN AREAS
Urban mapping by way of aerial photography of 25 towns from seven states has been completed and photographs and aerial maps for all the towns have been supplied to the States and user agencies. Aerial survey work for another 18 towns has since been completed and the work for the remaining 10 towns is in progress.
The towns where the process of urban mapping is over, include Bhubaneshwar and Puri in Orissa, Tindivanam, Nagapattinam, Karaikkudi, Tiruchendur and Rajapalyam in Tamil Nadu, Agra and Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, Nainital in Uttaranchal, Valsad, Bharuch, Surender Nagar, Porbandar and Veraval in Gujarat, Kalyan & Ulhas Nagar, Sholapur, Nanded, Nagpur, Ratnagiri and Akola in Maharashtra and Nandyal, Khammam, Gudiwada and Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh.
Interpretation of aerial photographs and collection of other secondary data and information is being done by the Town & Country Planning Organisation (TCPO), under the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, in collaboration with concerned State Town Planning Departments to generate thematic maps and graphic database for the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and processing of information for use as multi purpose maps.
To meet the requirement of base maps for towns and cities, a scheme for preparing urban maps using aerial photography for 50 towns - later increased to 53 towns - was started during the Eighth Five Year Plan. The project envisages development of technical capabilities of the town planning organisations at Central and State level so as to enable updating of the maps in a revision cycle. In the first phase, 25 towns from seven states were selected on priority basis for coverage under this scheme, in consultation with the State Governments. As Urban maps need to be multipurpose to be used by various agencies like Town Planning Departments, Local bodies, Public Works Department, Service and Utilities Agencies, Taxation Development, Directorate of Survey and Land Records etc. for planning and monitoring of development and management of towns, the scheme envisages use of modern technique of aerial photography and remote sensing for preparation and updation of existing base maps by adopting computer-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the techniques of remote sensing for urban planning and development, particularly in monitoring the dynamic aspects of the urban environment.
Since the planning exercise needs continuous data collection, analysis, interpretation and updating of data, a computer based database and information system in GIS environment would be developed at various levels, which would provide support to planners in development planning, particularly for the present and future development of rapidly growing cities and metropolitan areas.
The scheme is being implemented by the Town & Country Planning Organisation (TCPO). The National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) was assigned the task of supplying aerial photo mosaics for these towns along with line maps after rectification, ground control etc.
An amount of Rs. 18.89 crore was released to TCPO under the Scheme so far and an expenditure of Rs. 13.44 crore has been incurred by way of payment to the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) and upgradation of hardware/software facilities and training of personnel.