The last master plan was implemented in the city in the year 2001. Since then there has come no such plan. The city with the highest population (2011census) of 19,27,029 followed by Dehradun with 16,98560, the growth in population in past ten years has been nearly 33.16 per cent. However, no measure has been taken to cater to the increased population burden. The 2025 plan has been firmed up, but the work continuing at a snail's pace, things are far from reassuring.
Taking a serious note of the matter, the Supreme Court had sought response of the Uttarakhand Government on the matter of framing comprehensive rules for development of basic infrastructure in Haridwar under the master plan. As per the sources, a bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari issued notice to the state government and other authorities, seeking their response on why they have not framed a new Master Plan for the city after the last one had lapsed way back in 2001. The court had passed the order on a petition filed by a Haridwar resident Upendra Dutt Sharma who pleaded that there is a complete mess in the city thanks to a lack of proper planning to take on the rising population and the rising number of vehicles in the pilgrimage city.
If implemented, the master plan would help curb the encroachment menace, broaden roads and check illegal construction. However, things are hanging fire. long- pending construction of over -bridges at accident — prone areas like Jwalapur railway bridge can check accidents when put into place. Besides, despite the work of broadening national highway having started way back in 2011 just after the Kumbh Mela, some stretches, still under construction, are riddled with gaping holes, endangering the lives of the commuters and others.
District officials are passing the buck to the state administration, saying that though the master plan has been envisaged it is the state administration that is dithering on its execution.
Quizzed over the matter, HRDA secretary Banshidhar Tiwari said that implementation is a long process. “Zoning of areas has started. Any new map for construction of a residential or commercial building needs to be approved from the Haridwar development authority. By 2025, the plan would be executed,” he said.
From cleanest to dirtiest:
The city, bursting on its seams, has attained the dubious distinction of having a fall from the cleanest to the dirtiest city in the state. It was regarded as the ‘cleanest city’ in 1956 Uttar Pradesh was undivided. Panchpuri area of Haridwar can be tagged as the most ill- planned and crowded areas of the state. The narrow lanes, streets and market places with unplanned development add to the problems of the city of fairs and festivals. Vehicular traffic having increased three times in the past decade, the traffic system is in total mess. The only alternative available with the administration is to declare some areas in the city as zero zones when people congregate here in their thousands.
Industrial Stalemate: Things are pitiable in SIDCUl industrial area, just 10 kms from Har Ki Pauri. The number of vehicles having increased many fold in the past decade, the junctions leading to the industrial area remain chock-a-block with traffic during the office hours. Chandracharya chownk, Bhagat Singh chownk, Aryangar chownk, laltarao bridge, bus stand and Ranipur mod are some of the places which suffer such congestions. As per the transport department, after the formation of the state in 2000, there were 70,000 vehicles registered in the city. Presently it has risen to nearly three lakhs with two wheelers forming the bulk of the vehicles. However, to cope with them neither the local authorities nor the state administration have done nothing so far.
Water-logging woes : A master plan eluding the city , unplanned development has become a major concern. A little shower adds to the water logging situations at major junctions of the city while silting near the Mansa Devi bye pass road adds to the watery woes, resulting in suffering of the citizens residing in the area. There is no proper system of water drainage in the city while rampant encroachments are blocking the way for the rain water to exit.