Shahjahanabad and the Master Plan for Delhi: A Critical Appraisal

Author(s): Biswajit Banerjee

Source: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 10, No. 46 (November 15, 1975), pp. 1779, 1781-1784
Published by: Economic and Political Weekly
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ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY November15, 1975

Departmentof Evaluationand Analysis 8 Phase III, ChapterVI c, Special 12
of SIDA (Swedish InternationalDeve-
lopmentAuthority). A more detailed
summaryand review in Swedish has
been published by SIDA. The views
expressedare thoseof the authoronly.]*
1 "EmploymentProjectionsin Deve-
loping Regions", ILO memo (in
French,no date).
2 No distinctionis made here be-
tween the conceptsof technology,
technique or method of produc-
tion. The same is true for the
World Bank Report
3 Richard Eckaus' paper on "The
Factor Proportions Theorem in
UnderdevelopedCountries'', AER,
September1955, is a well known
example.
For some of the more recent dis-
cussions of the problemsee ILO,
C G Baron: "Constraintson the
Choice of Techniques in the Ma-
nufacturingSector" (no date), and
UNIDO: "Industrialisation,Em-
ployment and Social Objectives'',
ID/Conf, November 14, 1974.
4 "Asian Drama", Vol III, p 2039.
See also I Sachs*article"Problems
and Policies of Choice of Techni- 9 For a critiqueof this neo-classical
ques in Latin America'', UN Eco-
nomic Bulletinfor Latin America,
Spanish Edition, Vol XV, No 1,
1970, pp 14-15.
5 This argumentis also put forward
by Enos and Griffinin "Planning
Development",p 46 (1970), stating 10 The experienceof labour-intensive
that "Once a strategyis chosen. . .
the technologyhas been largely
set".
6 Status Report, dated January20,
1975, p 12.
7 Phase III, Chapter VI C (approxi-
mate quotation).
Studies. This chaptergives addi-
tionalexamplesof the crude input
approach to the human factor
which are sometimesincrediblein 13
their ingenuityor even crueltyin
treatingworkers. Experimentsof
the Health Studyconsistingin hav-
ing the workerscarryheavy sand
bags a long way over a river
bank *' . . had to be interrupted
due to problems with the work-
ers". They found it degradingto
do a job "normallydone by mules*'. 14
A race could not be extendedover
one hour since all participantswere 15
found to be exhaustedafter that
time. Still no relationshipis found
betweenhealth standardsand pro-
ductivity.With respectto the real
health and nutritional status of
Indian population, Dandekar and
Rath give evidence that "in 1960-
61 about one-thirdof the ruralpo-
pulation lived «on diets inadequate
even in respect of calories. The
corresponding figureforurbanareas
was 48.6 per cent". See "Poverty
in India", Economic and PoMcal
Weeklu, Bombay 1971, Chapter I.
approach,see A Badhuri: "On the
Significanceof Recent Controver-
sies on Capital Theory",Economic
Journal,Vol 79, 1969, in Harcourt-
Laing: "Capital and Growth",
Penerum-Readinsrs, 1971.
methodsin Indian textile industry
is brieflydiscussedbelow. 16
11 The problemof surplus utilisation
is discussedby A K Sen in his dis-
sertation "Choice of Technique",
firstedition,Oxford 1960, pp 16-
17, 97-98.
N Kaldor: "The Choice of Tech-
nology in Less Developed Count-
ries", Monthly Labour Review,
August 1965.
I have discussed some of these
problemsin a generalfashionin a
previouspaper preparedfor the
ILO in Santiago de Chile 1969:
"Technologyand Employment in
Latin America" p 20-25 (in the
Spanish version). See also B Hig-
gins: "Economic Development'*, p
675.
ILO/WEP Sharing in Develop-
ment",op citfGeneva 1974 (Ch 19).
For a similar argumentsee Per
Taxell "Agrarstruktur och arbets-
(AgrarianStruc-
krafts-utnyttjande'*
ture and Labour Utilisation- A,
Comparison between India and
China) (in Swedish), Institute of
Economics, Universityof Stock-
holm, 1974, p 22 (Mimeo); "Dur-
ing the Third 5-Year Plan...
therewas . . . widespreadresistance
amongstthe rural landless and
unemployedto participate in ...
rural work projects since these
would mainlyfavourthe ¡possessing
land owners. In order for employ-
ment-generatingrural projectsto
be meaningfuland significant, and
to make mass mobilisationof agri-
cultural labour a viable form of
capital accumulation,'by transfor-
ming labour into real capital*,this
mustthus go at par with a radical
transformationof the agrarian
structure".
A recentILO studyon the same
topic does deal with this aspect,
although superficially,See "Roads
and Redistribution"(Social Cost-
BenefitStudy of Iran), WEP 2-22,
1973, p 14.

Shahjahanabad and the Master Plan for Delhi

A Critical Appraisal
Biswajit Banerjee
The patternof land-usein Shahjahanabadis inconsistent with the objectivesof the Delhi Master
Plan withrespectto the WalledCity.In thePlan too much attentionhas been givento populationre-
and theproblemof traffic
distribution, and theassociatedallocationoflandunder"Roads and Streets'" has
beenby and largeneglected.
The objectivesof land-useplansare essentially long-range in nature.That beingso, land-useplans
are moreeffectivefor new peripheraldevelopment. Plans foralreadybuilt-upareas are more difficult to
implement.
Copingwithexternalities is of particularconcernto land-useregulation,it Is important to find
institutional
devicesby whichtheimpactof externalities will be compensated for.This is usuallydone by
zoningordinances.But zoningregulations cannotbe retractive : a land-usepatternexistingpriorto the
enactment of theregulationcannot be changed.If the desired land-usepatternsare to be attainedand the
"non-conforming uses" relocated,we will need a set of efficientpublicpoliciesto supplement the plan to
helpthe transition^
to thefuture.
SHAHJAHANABAD,as the walled city leader, but to the two-dayseminaron in various circlesthat the postulatesof
of Delhi is historicallyknown,was in 'Redevelopment of Shahjahanabad' the Master Plan for Delhi in relation
the news earlierthis year. One is refer- organisedby the Ministryof Worksand to the Walled City were inadequate.
ring not to the disturbancesin connec- Housing on January31 and February Concernwas also being expressedover
tion with the arrest of a religious 1, 1975. It was being increasingly
felt the fact that apart from a few half-

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 ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY November15, 1975

hearted attemptsmost of' the projects Plan expect that "with the general dilapidated structures7'.9The density
of urban renewal and redevelopment economic developmentof the country varies from 818 to 163 persons per
had gone unimplemented.1 As a result and improvement in the living condi- acre, and 73 per cent of the population
"The
the problemswhichwere already acute tions, Delhi will continueto grow as live in single room dwellings.
when the exercisefor planned develop- a major business, commercial and water mains are totallyinadequate for
ment of Delhi was taken up in the distribution centrefor northand north- the overcrowded dwellings and the
of
mid-fifties had aggravated further.So west India. It will also become an sewers are gettingblocked because
coun- the excessive discharge they have to
the seminar,'overcrowded'with politi- importantfinancialcentre of the
cians- and also attended by adminis- try".4 This us an indication.of carry for which they were never meant
gives
It is therefore recom-
trators,town planners, architectsand the trend. The questionnow is that of and designed."10
even poets, was organisedto chalk out location. According to the plan the mended that the average density of the
a new lino of treatment for Shahjahana- Central Business District of the Walled City be reduced to around 250
(CBD)
bad. To provide a frameworkfor capital should serveas the major centre personsper acre. With' the area under
discussiona workingpaper containing for these activities;5 and Chandni residentialland use remaining nearlythe
the relevant background material on Chowk-Khari Baoli-Sadar Bazar shall same in the futureas now (around 434
this would mean a relocationof
Shahjahanabad was prepared by the continueto be the CBD of the capital acres)
Town and CountryPlanningOrganisa- thoughsome modification and alteration nearlytwo lakh people.
tion. in location of activities is suggested.0
The WorkingPaper for the seminar But apart from the relocationof the Implications of Plan Objectives
on 'Redevelopmentof Shahjahanabad' wholesale grain marketand the bicycle What are the implicationsof these
has emphasised that "an important marketmost of the other relocations, objectives? First, even if we assume
prerequisitein formulating a workable such as the cloth market,are within that people dependent on industries
strategy for the redevelopment of Shah- the Walled City itself. The planners move with them, the majorityof the
jahanabad should begin froma general also feel that "mainly on account of people relocated outside the Walled
consensus in regard to its ultimate low floorarea ratiosin the established City will have theiremployment centre
place, its 'designatedrole' in the con- portionsof the city, the employment in Shahjahanabad. So journey-to-work
text of the futuremetropolisand the densitiesper acre, even in some of the tripswill increase. The mode of trans-
National Capital Region".3 Although more crowdedand congestedareas, are portation used will depend on the
the MasterPlan formulated by the Delhi substantiallybelow those suggested as distanceto workand the incomeof the
Development Authorityin 1961 can feasible in this report".7 The implica- household. As most of the existing
generallybe characterisedas a metro- tion here is that increasein trade and residentsare in the low income groups,
politan growthplan in the sense that commercialactivitiescan be accommo- and many will be given shelter in
it has been primarilyconcerned with dated withoutacquisitionof additional relocationschemes like Sarai Rohilla,11
forecastingthe extentand location'of land for this purpose. On the whole, we can expect the numberof bicycles
new peripheraldevelopment,it would therefore,we can expect growthof on the road to increase.
not be correctto assert that the Plan employmentin business and commerce But the employmentopportunities in
formulators did not expect Shahjahana- in the Walled City. Shahjahanabad are not going to remain
bad to play any specific role. The "Central retailingand services will unchanged. We have noted in- the
Plannersdid specify the role that the continueto be strongin the centralcity previoussectionthat wholesaling,distri-
Walled City was expectedto play. The because às incomes rise and district buting and business activities are
main issue here is whetherthe land-use centresbecome importantit will none- expected to grow rapidly and continu-
pattern is consistentwith the Plan theless be observed that even higher ously. "Associated locationally with
objectives. Such an evaluationof the speciality products are growing in them will be a certain number of
land-usepatternrequiresan examination importanceand the need for these can professionalservice activitieswhich are
of the interrelationships betweenvarious only be met in specialisedand centrally expectedto growat a muchmorerapid
formsof land-useand the futuretrend located shops".8 So although there rate than servicesin general."12More-
of different activities. will be a relativedecline in the impor- over retail activity is not going to
This paper makes an attempt to tance of the Walled City as a retail decline absolutely. This means that
evaluate the land use pattern in the marketcentre, there will not be an employment opportunitiesin Shah-
lightof the role which the formulators absolutedecline. In addition,the plan- jahanabad will increasemanyfold.Since
of the Delhi Master Plan expect ners specified,effortwill be made to a norm on residentialdensityhas been
Shahjahanabadto play. An important separate wholesaling from retail acti- specified,we may safely assert that
conclusionreachedis thatthe allocation vity. these additional employees will have
of land in Shahjahanabadfor different Industiial Activities: "The plan to commute to work from outside
activities,in the Delhi Master Plan, visualises that by 1981 there will be Shahjahanabad.Thereforetrafficduring
1961-81, seems to have been done in no land in the walled cityunderindus- peak hours is likely to increase. How-
an ad hoc manner. trial use." ever, for planningpurposesto estimate
Residential Activity: "Shahjahana- the amountof trip generationthat will
Plan Objectives
bad, thoughfull of the dust and frag- occur is not sufficient.What is
In this section the objectivesof the rance of the past and pulsatingwith additionallyneeded is a pictureof the
plannersregardingsome of the main life is a planners' nightmarewith its routesthat will be travelled. This will
land-useactivitiesare summarised. multiplicityof conflictinguses and its depend on the residentiallocation of
Trade and Commercial Activities: million problems created by acute the commutersand the locationof the
The formulators of the Delhi Master congestion, insanitary conditions and various employment centres within

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November15, 1975 ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY

Shahjahanabad. of Shahjahanabad trafficof all trans- fromthe plan objectives of the Delhi
Trip generation,however,does not portationmodes will increase. Master Plan summarisedin Section II.
depend on jourciey-to-work alone. As It is not at all clear from either the They merely reaffirm the plan objec-
the scale of operations of wholesale WorkingPaper or the MasterPlan how tives. There was a debate on where
activityin Shahjahanabadincreaseswe this figurewas arrivedat. From the the spillover population of the city
can expect goods trafficto increase. discussionso far it is quite clear that would be relocated, and finally the
Since the chief mode of goods trans- urban traffic is directlyrelated to land Minto Road complex was .selected.
portation at present is trucks, the use. The numberof trips originating Even this proposal is questionable
numberof trucksloadingand unloading in or destinedfor Shahjahanabadwill since, as it was correctlypointed out
at any particularpoint in time in the depend on the amount and kind of by one of the participantsin the semi-
futurewill be morethan at present.In land-uselocated there.If these relation- nar, the relocation of 60,000 surplus
addition more space will be required ships are fairlyregularand slable, the populationof the cityin the new com-
to park between trips. quantityand intensityof variouskinds plex, as suggested, would mean a
which
The discussionso far has been on the of land-use can be a measure of both densityof 600 personsper acre,
which outside current and future in
traffic Shahjahana- would not improve the densityobtaining
flow of traffic originates
bad. Whetherthe plannersdid develop in the city today. There was hardly
Shahjahanabad. Some traffic, however,
originatesand terminates withinShahja- a systematicquantitative relationship any referenceto trafficexcept for the
hanabad itself.Such traffic is in general between trafficand land-use which,in possibilityof most of the Old City
slow moving,and the chief transporta- combinationwith land-use forecasts, being banned to heavy vehicles. So
tion modes are bullock carts and,hand were utilised to predict futuretraffic most of the issues raised in the pre-
cartsformovementof freight,and ton- and the consequentallotmentof land vious section are still valid, and the
gas and cycle-rickshaws forcarrying pas- for 'Roads and Streets'is not known.16 authoritieswill continueto face diffi-
sengers. With a general increase in But the presentationof the Plan does culties in plan implementation unless a
commercial and business activity in give the impressionthat the figurefor different correctivecourse of action is
'Roads and Streets'was taken.
Shahjahanabad,and separationof whole- land use under
saling from retail activity, the volume arrived at in an ad hoc manner.
Some Suggestions for Action
of slow trafficis likely to increase. The Seminar Proposals
This increase will be partly offsetby In deciding on the future role of
The conclusion, therefore,is that
the reductionin the numberof people Shahjahanabad and the associated mix
some is necessaryon the role of activitieswe should take intoaccount
stayingin the Walled City for whom that rethinking is to play, and the determinates
the tongasand the cycle-rickshaws today evolveShahjahanabad of theirlocations,and
a more consistentpattern of not
constitutethe indispensable mode of simplybe swayedby our hopes and
land-use. We have to envisiona future aspirations. The existing land-use
conveyance. thatis quite different fromthe past and
In sum, therefore, traffic is going to patternin Shahjahanabad,it should be
the present. However,the contribution realised is the resultof decisionsmade
increase. The volumeof traffic is going
of the seminar on 'Redevelopmentof over a considerableperiod and under
to depend on the locationand intensity
towardsthis aspect was
of land use. But has sufficient amount Shahjahanabad' varying historical conditions. The
insignificant. Much of the dis- considerationsaffectingrecent location
of land been allocated for 'Roads and quite
cussion in the seminarwas vague and* decisionswere probablydifferent, or a¿
Streets'? This is the centralquestion.
nostalgic, and it is doubtfulif the major least valued differently from those that
The formulators of the Master Plan
recommendations made will be able to were
for Delhi felt that "it was not practic- importantin earlierperiods. The
solve the problem of inconsistency case of wholesale activitycan be taken
able to widen all the roads in the Old
discussedin the previous section. as an example.
City", and therefore"only the major Of the many recommendations made
roads should be widened in the first The location of wholesale activity
by the seminarthe followingthreeare depends, among otherthings,on inter-
stage to the minimumextentconsidered of
particularinterestto us: regional transportationroutes, inter-
necessary".13 The plan also made "There was a consensusamong industry
for some of the (i) linkages and agglomeration
provision existing alleys the participantson the impera-
to be used for c^cle-pathsand pedes- tive of shiftingnoxious trade economies. In the past the wholesalers
trian ways. But as a policy measure from the lanes of the city. presumably relied principallyon the
such action is unlikelyto prove very (ii) "The need to regeneratethe Old railwaysfor goods movement.The fact
effective. It is therefore not very City in a manner that its that the -railway junctionwas located
traditionalcharacteris maintain- in
surprising that the net effect of what- ed was also favoured. For this Shahjahanabadacted as an attractive
the years there
ever improvementand wideningthat purpose,the commercialtraitof force. However,over
has been carried out has been rather the city will also not be disturb- has been a shiftin goods movementfrom
what is ed. It was felt that the present rail to truck. Technically speaking
negligible.14 However, really role of the city as a commercial this has freed wholesalers from the
surprisingis the proposed allotmentof centre and wholesale trading line.
a
land for 'Roads and Streets' in 1981. centrefor the entireNorth-West compellingneed to be on railway
In 1971, 'Roads and Streets' occupied India should be continuedand In fact, the case for locating outside
193.212 acres of land and in 1981 planned for. Shahjahanabad has progressivelyim-
"The seminar recognised the proved because the
'Roads and Streets' are to occupy only
(iii) proportionof total
173.68 acres of land! (See Table 1.) compulsionsof startingthe pro- market outside Shahjahanabad has
cess of de-densification of the
The existingtransportation systemis far Old City."1? grown and the relative level of con-
fromadequate,15and it has alreadybeen It is evident that the above three gestionin the centrearea has increased.
argued that given the 'designated'role recommendations are not very different These are elementsof benefitand costs

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ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY November15, 1975

which every unit takes into considera- um mix of activitiesin Shahjahanabad. The residents of Shahjahanabad are,
tion beforelocatingitselfin space. But The suggestedsteps,however,should on the other hand, poor with meagre
until there are substantialincrease in not be taken capacity.It is quite evident
against all types of acti- rent-paying
costs and reductionin benefitsit is vities. It is
useful, at this stage, to that the policy of taxingbasic activities
doubtfulif the existingwholesalerswill make a distinctionbetween those acti- and raisingtheircosts of operationwill
move fromShahjahanabad. In general, vities whose
the new locationswhich the authorities mined spatial location is deter- affectmainlythe richergroup. To the
by spatial distribution,of house- extentit does so, the suggestedpolicy
create are usually considered only by
holds, purchasingpower and daytime measure seems to be socially accept-
the newcomersand serve to capture
population concentration (population able. But whetherit is politicallyac-
only a part of the total increasein any serving activities),and those activities ceptable or not is a different matter;
particular activity. This is illustrated whose spatial locationis determinedby here muchdepends on who is in power
by the followingexample: agglomerationeconomies,interindustry and the interestof which group he
"The intentionof the Delhi Improve- linkages, etc (basic activities). Some represents.
ment Trust in 1941 was to move of basic activitiesare manu- In this-contextthe Rent ControlAct
some of the major industrialunits examples
operatingin the heart of the city facturing, wholesaling and transporta- may also be mentioned.It has been
to this then outlying area [along tion. Our policies should be aimed at suggestedthat the "Rent ControlAct
NajafgarhRoad betweenRohtakRoad basic activities.The movementof some acts as a deterrentto proper main-
and Patel Road crossing],but hardly of the basic activitiesfrom
Shahjahana- tenance of houses. The large amount
any plantmoved out fromthe central bad will be a move- of absentee ownershipmeans that land-
city,and a new industrialarea deve- ment of accompanied by
loped on this site."18 people employedin these acti- lords are not interestedin checking
The WorkingPaper points out that vities and some populationservingacti- blight. This accelerates the pace of
the overhead costs incurred in doing vities. Consequentlythe need to in- deterioration ".-9 One of the recom-
in land-useplan forresi- mendationsof the seminarwas to re-
business,trade and even processingor dulge separate
manufacturing within the walled city dential locationand populationredistri- view the Rent Control Act. When
is very low.19 Consequently,not only bution is minimised,thoughnot elimi- comingto thisconsensusthe participants
are some newcomersattractedby the nated. presumablyhad in mind the fact that
high returns,but also the existinges- However, certain population-serv- "very low rentsand anachronisticrent
tablishments are less spurred to move ing activitieshave to be given special laws have contributedtheir share to
to the new locations provided' for in attention.Accordingto the Health De- the unchecked growth of Commercial
-1
the Plan. The authoritiesshould there- partmentof the Municipal Corporation and industrialactivities" While ris-
'
fore prepareto take steps to somehow of Delhi, there are about 161 'cattle ing rents may increase the costs of
operating business in the Walled City
(possiblyby imposinguser chargesand clusters"within the Walled City, and
in most milch cattle are kept it will also, unless accompanied by
an appropriateset of taxes) raise the places the
overhead and other operational costs. inside the dwellingsalong with human adequate subsidy,increase the burden
Such an action would have pervasive beings. In addition,the kilns of dhobis on the already poor residentsof Shah-
effects.Increasingcosts will encourage constantlyemit heavy smoke and are a jahanabad. It should be realised that
or may even force existingunits to permanentfirehazard. Both these acti- the slum-likecondition of Shahjahan-
relocateelsewhere.Which activitieswill vities contributeto environmental abad is primarily a reflectionof poverty.
pol-
move and to what extentwill depend lution and their removal will improve The problem is an economicone, and
on the elasticityof demandof the vari- living conditionsof the residents.But some sort of income-raising policies are
it needed. Mere relocation of population
ous activitiesfor the servicesprovided ought to be kept in mind that they
essential services to the will not provide an effectivelong-term
by Shahjahanabad.Activitiesfor which provide people.
solution. The policy maker should,
Shahjahanabad has special locational Unless the authoritiesarrangefor alter-
advantages,because of unique facilities native sources of milk supply at the therefore,give this problem its due
not available elsewhere,will have a existing rates and also make cheap recognitionand follow it up. with an
and efficient set of policies.
very low elasticityof demand and will laundryfacilitiesavailable, the removal appropriate
tendto remainin theirpresentlocations. of kilns in going to reduce the welfare
Other activities,especiallythose of the of the already poor residentsof Shah- Conclusions
"footloose" variety, having a higher jahanabad. In a recent article22on Shahjahan-
elasticityof demand will move out in In additionto the "allocative effect" abad, S S Shafi has written,"Talking
greater numbers. It should, however, discussed above, the suggested policy about Shahjahanabadis liketalkingabout
be noted that the demand curves of measure will also have a "revenue the weather;everyonespeaks of it but
the variousactivitiesfor the servicesof effect"and a "redistributiveeffect'* no one is able to do anythingto im-
a location centre are interrelated,and The lattereffectcalls for some discus- prove it". The analysis in this
paper
will undergo changes as a result of sion, it is well known that neitherthe gives an indicationas to why this is
relocation of activities,the demand owners of propertyin Shahjahanabad so. It has been shown that the pattern
curves of the activities having some nor the wholesalersand distributors live of land-use in Shahjahanabad is in-
withthe outgoingacti- in the Walled City. These persons are consistentwith the objectives of the
interrelationships
vities will not only shift inward but of considerablemeans and live in
sop- Delhi Master Plan with respectto the
mayalso changetheirslopes.The policy histicatedbungalowselsewherein Delhi. Walled City. In the Plan too much
maker should keep these aspects in Considerable sums of money are ex- attentionhas boon given to
population
mind while decidingon a set of taxes changed between the owners of and the problemof traffic
pro- redistribution,
whichwill bringabout a new equilibri- pertyand the usersby way of 'pugree'. and the associated allocation of land

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 Novemberl5, 1975 ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY

Table 1 : Existing (1971) anö Proposed (1981) Land-Use in the Walled City 13 MasterPlan for Delhi, Introduction
P (iO.
Land-use 1971 1981
14 WorkingPaper, p 14.
Area Percentage Area Percentage
(acres) (acres) 15 "Roads and Streetscannotcarrythe
additionalvolume of traffic*.
Draft
Residential 428.395 34..60 434.70 36.30 Master Plan, p 54. This was in
Commercial 131.790 10.70 101.72 8.50 1957. The presentconditionscan
Industrial 29.050 2.40 - - thereforebe imagined.
Public and semi-public
facilities 185.100 14.90 244.47 16 It should be realisedthatthe plan-
20.40
Parksand playgrounds 231.659 18.70 240.92 20.10 ner is faced with the problemof
Government uses 35.810 2.90 2.20 0.20 forecastingtwo types of trafficin
Vacantland 2.651 0.20 - - Shahjahanabad: passenger traffic
Roads and streets 193.212 15.60 173.68 14.50 and freight traffic. Forecasting
Total 1237.667 100.00 1197.69° 100.00 freight trafficis a more difficult
task and transport plannershave
* This area does not include monuments, only,recentlyconcernedthemselves
religiousbuildingsand area with the problem of forecasting
under Master Plan Roads and amenities,such as Hospitals and freight traffic.The variousfore-
Large Commercial areas which serve the larger area than that of casting techniques for both cate-
the Zone. goriesof trafficcan be dividedinto
Source: WorkingPaper forSeminaron Redevelopment of Shahjahanabad,Town three groups: (a) methodsbased
and CountryPlanningOrganisation, New Delhi, Table No 3, p 23. on extrapolation;(b) methodsbased
on so called "trafficmodels'*;and
under "Roads and Streets" has been ties involved. We need to determine (c) economicdemandmodels. The
methodsuggestedabove for Shah-
by and large neglected. The seminar the relevant variables and important jahanabad is similarto that of ex-
on 'Redevelopmentof Shahjahanabad' relationshipsthat determinelocation of trapolation. It has been recom-
has also performedno better.Although activities.The new redevelopment mended in the light of the
body prevailingconditionsin Shahjahana-
it set out to chalk out a new line of that will be set up will do well to bad. For a detailed treatmentof
treatment for Shahjahanabad,the semi- look into these matterscarefullybefore trafficforecastsee Ian G Heggie:
nar made manyrecommendations which designingits policies. But care should "TransportEngineering Economics",
McGraw Hill, London 1972.
were no différentfrom the objectives be taken to see that politicalpressures
of the Delhi Master Plan. do not interferewith the formulation 17 "New
Redevelopment body moot-
and implementation of the policies. ed'', HindustanTimes, February2,
It should be realised that the ob- 1975.
jectivesof land-useplans are essentially
long range in nature. That being so,
Notes 18 Draft MasterPlan, p 50.
land-use plans are more effectivefor [The authoris 19 WorkingPaper, p 9 para 37.
gratefulto S S Shafiof
new peripheraldevelopment.Plans for the Town and Country Planning 20
New Delhi, for comments Draft Master Plan, .p 111.
already built-up areas are more diffi- Organisation,
cult to implement. on an earlier draft of the paper.] 21, S S Shafi: "Buildinga New Shah-
1 AhteshamQureshy: "Old City Pro- jahanabad: . Problems and Pros-
Coping with externalities
is of pects", HindustanTimes, Sunday,
parti- jects Ignored", HindustanTimes, January26, 1Ö75.
cular concernto land-useregulation.It January25, 1975.
is important to findinstitutionaldevices 22 Ibid.
2 "Focus on Cauital's Needs" Hindu-
by whichthe impactof externalities will stan Times,February1, 1975.
be compensatedfor. This is usually
done by zoning ordinances.But zoning 3 Town and CountryPlanningOrga-
nisation: "Working Paper " for Mohta Electro Steel
regulationscannotbe retractive:a land-
use existingprior to the enactmentof Seminar on Redevelopment of MOIITA EU-ctro Steel is setting
Shahjahanabad",p 15.
the regulationcannot be changed. If up a plant at Bhiwani,a declared
the desiredland-use patternsare to be 4 Delhi Development Authority- 'backward' area of Haryana, to manu-
attainedand the "non-conforming uses" DraftMasterPlan forDelhi, facture3,000 tonnesof box strappings
Vol 1, p 56; MasterPlan for(1957)
Delhi and 4,500 tonnes of cold rolled steel
relocated,we will need a set of effici-
(1961) p 6. stripsper annum. The projecthas par-
ent public policies to supplementthe
to
plan help the transition to the future. 5 Draft MasterPlan, p 57. tially gone on streamand commercial
Such policies also minimisethe need productionhas also been takenup. The
6 Ibid, p 62; MasterPlan for Delhi, companyis making- at par - a pub-
to indulgein the use of ad hoc criteria
p 12. lic issue of 3 lakhsequityshares,of Rs
to forecast future land-use pattern.
While we can all come to an agree- 7 Draft Master Plan, p 77. 10 each, and 9,995 (11 per cent) re-
ment about the relocation of certain deemable cumulativepreferenceshares,
8 Ibid, p 75. of Rs 100 each.This is to raise part of
objectionable and incompatibleactivi- the finance required for the project.
ties, the relocationof others have to 9 Ibid, p 59.
be decided on the basis of the determi- The entireissue has been fullyunder-
writtenby financial institutions and
nantsof locationof activities.The im- 10 Ibid, p 54.
brokers.The company does not envi-
pact is greatestif our supplementary in marketing
11 Ibid, p 113. sage any difficulty its pro-
policies are aimed at basic activities. dacts as there is good demand in the
There are, however,a lot of uncertain- 12
Ibid, p 75. country.
1784

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