KOLHAPUR: With the regional plan (RP) being approved by the state government, Kolhapur district 's landscape is going to change in the next 20 years. The last regional plan was drafted around four decades ago.The district is mostly considered as rural and agrarian. However, in the last couple of decades, the demand for good quality residences, jobs and other economic activities has increased. But the authorities were hardly equipped to come up with the desired infrastructure.Experts say that urban conglomerates and business complexes proposed at several towns in the regional plan will boost overall economic activities in the district that ranks among the top five districts in the state in terms of highest per capita income. However, they are suspicious whether infrastructure growth in other parts of the district will help reduce the overburdened city.Rajendra Sawant, citybased architect, said, "The urban complexes proposed in the regional plan are not in conformity with the city's boundaries and therefore will limit the scope of developing the civic amenities.The government should appoint separate authority to implement the proposals from the RP as many departments are involved at the same time, while undertaking any task proposed. The plan has more emphasis on infrastructure development and creating new business places, and has neglected tourism in the district which in itself generates many business opportunities." After deliberations for the last two to three years, the idea to develop Growth comprising Kolhapur and 19 villages. Experts maintain that the jurisdiction of the KUDA will be required to expand as new Growth Centres will come up during the implementation of the RP.Shashikant Phadtare, city-based town planning expert, said, "Earlier, development plans have remained only on paper. Various agencies are at work to undertake the infrastructural works. I expect that jurisdiction of KUDA will be expanded for coherent development of the existing development plans of the city, towns and villages. The RP ensures that rural face of the district will be slightly urbanised owing to the more emphasis on the infrastructure and town planning ideas proposed in it." Centres at 20 places in the district came up along with developing ring roads for the city. Also there is a proposal to develop six more industrial centres for which supporting infrastructure of roads and rail routes have been planned to be developed for next two decades.Recently, the government announced an independent Kolhapur Urban Development Authority (KUDA) comprising Kolhapur and 19 villages. Experts maintain that the jurisdiction of the KUDA will be required to expand as new Growth Centres will come up during the implementation of the RP.Shashikant Phadtare, city-based town planning expert, said, "Earlier, development plans have remained only on paper. Various agencies are at work to undertake the infrastructural works. I expect that jurisdiction of KUDA will be expanded for coherent development of the existing development plans of the city, towns and villages. The RP ensures that rural face of the district will be slightly urbanised owing to the more emphasis on the infrastructure and town planning ideas proposed in it.

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