Question

As per URDPFI Guidelines 2015 of Government of India, choose the correct hierarchy of plans from higher order to lower order

• A. Perspective plan, Development plan, Zonal plan, Regional plan
• B. Perspective plan, Regional plan, Development plan, Zonal plan
• C. Regional plan, Perspective plan, Development plan, Zonal plan
• D. Zonal plan, Development plan, Perspective plan, Regional plan

Hint:

\textbf{URDPFI Guidelines} provide a framework for hierarchical planning in India.
The general hierarchy from highest (broadest scope, longest term) to lowest (most detailed, shortest term) is:
(A) \textbf{Perspective Plan} (State/Large Region, very long term vision)
(B) \textbf{Regional Plan} (Specific Region, long term strategies)
(C) \textbf{Development Plan / Master Plan} (City/Town level, medium-long term land use & infrastructure)
(D) \textbf{Zonal Plan / Local Area Plan} (Specific zones within city, detailed proposals)
(E) (Followed by Annual/Action Plans for implementation)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The URDPFI Guidelines (Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation Guidelines), issued by the Ministry of Urban Development (now Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs), Government of India, provide a framework for urban and regional planning in the country. They recommend a hierarchical system of plans. The typical hierarchy of plans, moving from broader, long-term strategic plans (higher order) to more detailed, localized plans (lower order) is generally as follows: 1. Perspective Plan: This is the highest-level, long-term (e.g., 20-30 years) strategic plan for a large region or an entire state. It sets out broad development goals, policies, and strategies. It often includes macro-level population and economic projections and identifies major development corridors and zones. 2. Regional Plan: This plan covers a specific region (which could be an inter-state region, a metropolitan region, or a district). It translates the goals of the Perspective Plan into more concrete spatial strategies for that region, coordinating development across multiple urban and rural areas within the region. It also typically has a long-term horizon (e.g., 15-25 years). 3. Development Plan (or Master Plan / Comprehensive Development Plan): This is a statutory plan for a specific urban area (city or town). It details land use zoning, infrastructure proposals (roads, utilities), and development control regulations for that urban area. It has a medium to long-term horizon (e.g., 10-20 years) and implements the objectives of the Regional Plan at the local urban level. 4. Zonal Development Plan (or Zonal Plan / Area Plan / Local Area Plan): This is a more detailed plan for specific zones or areas within a city, as identified in the Development Plan. It elaborates on the land use proposals, infrastructure details, and urban design guidelines for that particular zone. It has a shorter-term focus and provides micro-level planning. 5. Annual Plan / Action Plan: These are short-term (e.g., 1-5 years) plans that detail specific projects and actions to implement the higher-level plans. Based on this hierarchy, from higher order (broader, longer-term) to lower order (more detailed, shorter-term): Perspective Plan $\rightarrow$ Regional Plan $\rightarrow$ Development Plan $\rightarrow$ Zonal Plan. Let's check the options:
(a) Perspective plan, Development plan, Zonal plan, Regional plan (Incorrect: Regional should be before Development)
(b) Perspective plan, Regional plan, Development plan, Zonal plan (Correct: This matches the standard hierarchy)
(c) Regional plan, Perspective plan, Development plan, Zonal plan (Incorrect: Perspective is higher than Regional)
(d) Zonal plan, Development plan, Perspective plan, Regional plan (Incorrect: This is reversed order) Therefore, option (b) represents the correct hierarchy of plans from higher order to lower order as per URDPFI guidelines. \[ \boxed{\text{Perspective plan, Regional plan, Development plan, Zonal plan}} \]