Ahmedabad is set to host the National Town and Country Planners Conference from February 6 to 8, marking its return after a 13-year hiatus. The event will gather over 500 town planners, policymakers, academicians, and urban development experts from various parts of India to discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from urbanization and regional development. Organized by the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) in collaboration with the Gujarat government’s Urban Development Department, the conference will revolve around the theme of “Proactive Regional Planning and Development to Usher Viksit Bharat.”
The conference will delve into innovative approaches to regional and metropolitan planning, with a particular focus on aspects like high-speed rail projects such as the bullet train and the utilization of artificial intelligence and GIS-based modeling tools in the planning processes. Notable figures such as K Srinivas, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, along with Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain and former Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Keshav Verma, are expected to grace the inaugural session.
With India’s urban population projected to reach around 600 million by 2031, accounting for nearly 40% of the total population, the conference gains significance in addressing the pressing need for coordinated and forward-looking regional planning to manage growth effectively. ITPI President Pradeep Kapoor emphasized the importance of proactive regional planning in tackling the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and infrastructure expansion, aiming to align planning strategies with long-term development objectives.
The discussions at the conference will place a special emphasis on spatial planning for balanced growth, climate-resilient infrastructure, development of economic corridors and industrial clusters, and the establishment of institutional mechanisms for efficient regional governance. Various sub-themes will be explored, including inclusive infrastructure planning for global events like the proposed Commonwealth Games in 2030, applications of artificial intelligence in planning, and a retrospective analysis of 100 years of town planning schemes in Gujarat.
