Bombay Town Planning Act, 1954 HEMANT KR. SINGH M.

PLAN SEM - 4

The Bombay Town Planning Act, 1954 (BTPA) was a significant piece of
legislation that governed urban planning and development in the then-state
of Bombay (present-day Maharashtra and Gujarat).

Key features :
● Mandatory development plans: The Act made it
mandatory for planning authorities to prepare
comprehensive development plans for their jurisdictions.
This marked a shift from the previous voluntary approach.
● Regulation of development: The Act empowered
authorities to control and regulate development activities
through permits and land acquisition mechanisms.
● Town planning schemes: The Act also allowed for the
creation of specific "town planning schemes" for
designated areas, enabling targeted development
interventions.
● Focus on public facilities: The Act aimed to ensure the
provision of essential public facilities like water, roads,
and electricity through development plans and schemes.
HISTORY
● 1915: The Bombay Town Planning Act, 1915, lays the groundwork for regulating development in Bombay (Mumbai), Pune,
and Thane. However, it focuses on voluntary town planning schemes, not mandatory development plans.

1954:

● The BTPA is enacted, introducing several key changes:

○ Mandatory Development Plans: It makes it mandatory for planning authorities to prepare comprehensive development
plans for their jurisdiction.
○ Enhanced Powers: The act grants various powers to authorities, including:
■ Land acquisition for public purposes.
■ Controlling development activities through permissions and restrictions.
■ Preparing and implementing town planning schemes for specific areas.

TIMELINE
BTPA continues to be relevant
● 1915: Bombay Town ● 1967: Maharashtra State for town planning in parts of
Planning Act comes is formed, inheriting the Mumbai and surrounding areas,
subject to adaptations and
into effect. BTPA. amendments.
1954 1976

1915 1967 2023

1954: Bombay Town ● 1976: Maharashtra Regional and
Planning Act, 1954, Town Planning Act supersedes BTPA
is enacted in larger regions, but BTPA remains
applicable in specific areas.
 PRECEDENTS

The Bombay Town Planning Act, 1954 (BTPA) wasn't created in a vacuum. It had several
important precedents that influenced its development:

Early Town Planning Legislation:

● City of Bombay Improvement Act, 1898: This act addressed challenges related to overcrowding and
sanitation in Bombay, authorizing land acquisition and infrastructure development.
● Bombay Town Planning Act, 1915: This act introduced zoning regulations and established a Town
Planning Board to guide development.
● Bombay Town Planning (Amendment) Act, 1947: This act expanded the scope of the previous act,
empowering authorities to prepare development plans and control land use.

National Legislation:

● Government of India Act, 1935: This act granted provincial governments the power to enact town
planning legislation.

Additionally:

● The BTPA also drew upon the experiences and challenges faced in implementing the earlier town
planning acts in Bombay.
● The post-independence context, with its emphasis on planned development and economic growth,
influenced the act's focus on comprehensive development plans and control over land use.