Streamlining the development in the peri-urban areas of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) and beyond by creating a framework and policy to structure planned development. The lack of coordination among different departments involved in urban planning and development exacerbates issues such as the lack of last-mile connectivity, absence of a road hierarchy, haphazard development, and fragmentation of agricultural land. To address this, the research aims to understand the unique dynamics, challenges, and opportunities associated with agricultural zones within and outside AUDA's jurisdiction, and to investigate techniques and regulations that can balance urban expansion and the preservation of agricultural land, promoting planned development.
The methodology involves an extensive review of existing literature, regulations, acts, and policies related to peri-urban development, interviews with key stakeholders, and the analysis of real-life case studies and established theories of peri-urban areas. The findings reveal that peri-urban development is influenced by a range of policies, acts, and regulations that often lack synchronization, resulting in confusion and unplanned development. The lack of synchronized framework creates various loopholes and issues, particularly in terms of capacity to issue permissions and effectively monitor development. The growth in peri-urban areas can be attributed to several factors, including lower land prices, relaxed regulations, the absence of Town Planning schemes, ribbon developments along major roads, and the expansion of villages due to population growth.
The project suggests solutions for the organized growth of peri-urban areas, which are classified into three. The first solution is to establish coordination among different authorities for planned development, especially in the influence zone beyond the jurisdiction of AUDA. This approach aims to bridge the gap between multiple governing bodies and foster collaboration to ensure cohesive and synchronized development in the peri-urban areas. The second solution is to develop regulations and policies specific to agricultural zones, balancing the preservation of agricultural land with urban expansion. The third solution is to promote the integration of transportation networks, road hierarchies, and last-mile connectivity to increase accessibility and functionality in peri-urban areas. The research highlights the importance of coordinated efforts among multiple governing bodies to address the challenges of unplanned development and achieve a more integrated and synchronized approach to urban expansion.