LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Development Authority has made a decision not to approve building plans for houses on 7.5-meter-wide roads within 241 illegal colonies, even if mapping regulations are relaxed. This decision, taken at the recent LDA board meeting, aligns with the enforcement of the Master Plan 2021.
According to the new regulations, approvals will only be granted if a 7.5-meter road is at least 200 meters long and constructed with government funding. Roads of the same width developed by private builders in unapproved colonies will not qualify. These restrictions apply to colonies designated as “bad colonies” in the Avadh region’s master plan.
This clarification followed numerous inquiries regarding map approvals from various illegal colonies identified in the master plan survey at the LDA office.
LDA officials stated that these colonies were flagged in the 2021 Master Plan for not meeting LDA standards. Many were noted 24 years ago and still lack essential amenities such as proper roads, drainage, parks, and community spaces. While the number of such colonies has continued to grow, the official count will remain at 241 for policy purposes. The LDA has worked for years to regularize illegal colonies, but stringent requirements regarding road width, drainage, and open spaces have hindered many from qualifying. Even proposals to relax mapping regulations will not assist these areas.
An LDA official remarked, “This measure aims to prevent unplanned urban development. Approving maps in colonies lacking basic infrastructure would only encourage unplanned growth in the city, adversely affecting future residents.”
