Bhubaneswar, Nov. 23: Keeping the city’s future growth in mind, the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur is conducting a survey to facilitate micro-level planning for the capital.

The exercise, dubbed as the Zonal Development Plan (ZDP), for which the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is providing both logistical and financial support, has already begun in areas like Aiginia, Tamando and Gangapada. In the next two years, it will cover all the 14 zones of the capital into which the city has been divided for planning purposes.

The micro-level planning will enable the development planners to understand and assess area-wise needs for infrastructure like roads and drains. This would also help stakeholders in urban development like the public health engineering department, the departments of energy and transport, who have to chip in to take the development work forward.

Senior project consultant at the IIT Project Office of the BDA Rajkunwar Nayak said that unlike the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) under which urban planning for a huge stretch from Khurda to Nirgundi is being done, the ZDP would take care of the smallest details. “We have made field visits to ascertain the planning needs of Aiginia, Tamando and Gangapada. After three to four months, we will take it up in other areas,” she said, adding that people in the survey areas are also being requested to submit details of land use and housing requirements to the BDA.

According to BDA vice-chairman Deoranjan Kumar Singh, micro-level planning is being done at a cost of Rs 4 crore. “In the first phase, land use data for Aiginia, Tamando and Gangapada on the city outskirts would be compiled. People have been asked to come forward and help the team that is conducting the survey for planning,” said Singh.

The official said that zone-level planning would take into account infrastructure issues like drains and roads with a width up to 20 feet. “Such planning is necessary to resolve local level civic and developmental problems,” he added. The planning will pay special attention to areas like Sisupalgarh, which required conservation because of their historical importance.

Apart from from Tamando, Aiginia and Gangapada the others zones earmarked for micro-level planning are Bharatpur, Chandrasekharpur, Sribantpur, East Kuakhai, Sisupalgarh, Bhubaneswar New Town, Old Bhubaneswar, Dhauli, Khurda, Barunei and Jatani. The last three areas have been included keeping the city’s future growth in mind.

BDA planning member K.C. Satapathy said that the ZDP had also become important in view of the galloping population rate of Bhubanesar and its adjoining areas.

“The population density per square kilometre of Bhubaneswar municipal area, Khurda, Jatani were 7,357, 2,021 and 2,720 respectively in 2008. However, the figures would be around 13,624, 5,139, and 5,051 according to the population projection for 2030. So the ZDP will definitely help us in handling the pressure arising from population explosion in future,’’ the official added.