NEW DELHI: The Union government is set to implement a policy that will prohibit construction within a 15-meter buffer on either side of greenfield and access-controlled bypasses and ring roads across states. State governments will be mandated to designate these areas as ‘No Construction Green Zones’ to restrict any development activities.
This initiative is a key component of the Ministry of Road Transport’s policy for access-controlled ring roads and bypasses. The objective is to alleviate congestion in major cities by preventing ribbon development, which is characterized by buildings that directly access transportation networks along roads.
In response to discussions on managing unregulated ribbon development, the Ministry indicated that the proposed policy emphasizes controlled development around these bypasses. It will require state governments to declare a development control zone of 15 meters on either side of the National Highway (NH) bypass or ring road as a green zone under state planning laws. Development in this area will only be permitted for public transport, mobility infrastructure, or essential utilities like electricity, water, and sewage pipelines.
Beyond the no-construction green zone, state governments will have the authority to plan and regulate residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects within a two-kilometer radius of the bypass or road. This approach aims to encourage economic activities while maintaining regulated development around the road or bypass.
