regional plan, sub-regional plan, sector plans, spatial  plans, town planning schemes – Track2Training

Planning in India is structured in a hierarchical system, from broad national or regional frameworks to site-specific local plans. This ensures integration across levels and sectors while addressing local, regional, and national development objectives.

1️⃣ Regional Plan

Definition:

A regional plan is a long-term plan that focuses on the development of a large area such as a district, state, or a cluster of districts, integrating urban, rural, and environmental planning.

Objectives:

• Allocate land and resources efficiently across regions.
• Promote balanced economic development and reduce regional disparities.
• Identify growth centers and corridors for urban and industrial development.

Features:

• Covers large geographic areas (state, region, or metropolitan region).
• Provides framework for sub-regional and local plans.
• Addresses land use, transport, infrastructure, and natural resource management.

2️⃣ Sub-Regional Plan

Definition:

A sub-regional plan focuses on a smaller part of a region, such as a district or cluster of towns, detailing development policies within the regional framework.

Objectives:

• Identify specific growth centers and development nodes.
• Plan for infrastructure, transportation, and land use at a sub-regional level.
• Coordinate urban and rural development within the sub-region.

Features:

• More detailed than a regional plan.
• Links regional planning objectives with local-level plans.
• Focuses on functional areas, transport corridors, and resource allocation.

3️⃣ Sector Plans

Definition:

Sector plans focus on specific sectors or themes, such as transport, housing, industry, water supply, or energy, across a region or city.

Objectives:

• Improve efficiency and coordination of sector-specific development.
• Integrate sectoral policies with spatial and regional planning.

Features:

• Can be regional, sub-regional, or local in scope.
• Provide guidelines for sector-specific infrastructure development.
• Often include transport master plans, water supply schemes, or energy plans.

4️⃣ Spatial Plans

Definition:

Spatial plans (also called land-use or urban plans) organize the physical layout of land and infrastructure for settlements, towns, or cities.

Objectives:

• Allocate land for residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational purposes.
• Plan transport networks, open spaces, and public facilities.
• Ensure efficient, equitable, and sustainable land use.

Features:

• Translate policy goals into physical form.
• Include master plans, zoning regulations, and detailed development plans.
• Often cover municipal or town areas.

5️⃣ Town Planning Schemes (TPS)

Definition:

A Town Planning Scheme is a detailed local-level plan prepared for a specific area within a town or city, usually under the Town and Country Planning Act.

Objectives:

• Reorganize land parcels for planned development.
• Provide roads, parks, and civic amenities.
• Compensate landowners for land acquired for public use while allowing development potential for private plots.

Features:

• Area-specific and legally enforceable.
• Includes land pooling, road layout, drainage, and public facilities.
• Bridges the gap between master plans and on-ground implementation.

6️⃣ Hierarchy Summary

✅ Key Points:

• Planning is hierarchical and integrated, from broad regional frameworks to local-level implementation.
• Regional plans set macro-level objectives.
• Sub-regional and sector plans refine strategies.
• Spatial plans and town planning schemes implement detailed land use and infrastructure plans.
• This hierarchy ensures coordination, efficiency, and sustainable development across scales.