Curation Team
LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Development Authority has ruled out approving building maps for houses on 7.5-mt-wide roads in 241 illegal colonies, even if mapping norms are eased. The decision, taken at the recent LDA board meeting, is part of the enforcement of the Master Plan 2021.
Under the new rule, approval will be given only if a 7.5-mt road is at least 200 mt long and built with govt funds. Roads of the same width developed by private builders in unapproved colonies will not qualify. The restriction applies to colonies listed as “bad colonies” in the Avadh region’s master plan.
The clarification came after people turned out over the map approval queries from various illegal colonies identified in the master plan survey at the LDA office.
LDA officials said these colonies were identified in the 2021 Master Plan as being developed without meeting LDA standards. Many were first flagged 24 years ago and still lack basic amenities such as proper roads, drainage, parks and community spaces. While the actual number of such colonies has grown, the official count will stay frozen at 241 for policy purposes. The LDA has been working for years to regularise illegal colonies, but strict norms on road width, drainage and open space have kept many from qualifying. Even proposals to relax mapping rules will not benefit these areas.
An LDA official said, “The move is meant to prevent unplanned growth. If we approve maps in colonies without basic infrastructure, we will only be encouraging unplanned urbanisation in the city, which will affect the residents in the future.”
