Ahmedabad, February 6: The 74th National Town and Country Planners Conference was held on Friday at the Karnavati Club on SG Highway, organized by the Institute of Town Planners India. The conference was inaugurated at 9:30 AM by Kattikithala Srinivas, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
In attendance were Gujarat’s Urban Development Minister Darshana Ben Mukeshbhai Vaghela, Uttar Pradesh Government Advisor Keshav Verma, Institute President Pradeep Kapoor, and other prominent town planners.
The main theme of the conference was “Active Regional Planning and Development Towards a Developed India.” Discussions focused on sustainable urban density, inclusive development, and strategies for accommodating future populations within limited areas.
State Minister for Urban Development and Housing, Gujarat, Darshana Vaghela, emphasized the importance of organized and sustainable development amid rapid urbanization. She highlighted the need for scientific Town Planning, discussing modern infrastructure, green spaces, traffic management, housing, and civic amenities during the conference.
Srinivas Kattikithala stated that Gujarat’s progress serves as a model for other states to strengthen their cities. He noted Prime Minister Modi’s profound vision for India’s future, predicting that nearly 50% of the population will reside in urban areas, contributing 75 to 80% of GDP, with significant involvement from the youth. The government is actively preparing for these changes.
He also mentioned ongoing communication with mayors and commissioners, with Minister Manohar Lal frequently organizing conferences to discuss phased urbanization strategies.