Patna, Dec. 22: The development plan for the city’s organised growth over the next 20 years will require co-ordinated efforts from various state government departments for its execution.

“There has been absolutely no policy strategy in practice in the state capital for the past two decades. This led to rapid unplanned development of the city coupled with civic menace,” said a senior state government official.

Registering a growth rate of 48.97 per cent and 32.53 per cent in the past two decades, the ballooning population of the state capital has crossed the 20-lakh mark already. The projected population for 2030 is 44,42,678, according to the city development plan.

To set forth the steps for a holistic development of the city up to 2030, the state urban development department launched the city development plan for Patna, among 28 cities, yesterday.

The state government departments concerned have welcomed the plan and claimed to extend support for the successful implementation of the growth blueprint.

“It is high time for the city to have a development plan. Despite enormous tourism potential, visitors often get a negative impression of the city because of unhygienic conditions and lack of sanitation facilities,” said tourism minister Sunil Kumar “Pintu”.

He added: “The city would highly benefit from the successful implementation of the various projects, as there would be cleanliness and basic infrastructure. This would lure tourists. We would extend every possible support, including execution of the projects that fall under the ambit of the tourism department,” said Pintu.