Preparation of Plans

 
          This department prepares and implements the statutory plans viz., Master Plan, New Town Development Plan and Detailed Development Plan for the planning areas under Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act 1971. In addition to these special plans like heritage town development plans having historical, cultural, archeological and tourist importance and traffic improvement plans have been prepared and implemented through local bodies by extending funding assistance as grant from Town and Country Planning Development Fund.

(a) Regional Plan 
The importance of regional planning was first stressed at Governmental level by the Housing & Regional Planning Panel (1955) of the Planning Commission. The objectives of balanced regional development was sought to be achieved through industrial location policy as "through balanced and coordinated development of industrial and agricultural economy in each region, the entire country can attain higher standard of living". In Tamil Nadu the state has been demarcated into eight regions taking into factors like geographical boundary, resource base, market potential and facilities, population threshold etc. Identification of growth poles, growth centres, service centres and proposal for development of transportation and communication network, provision of regional level facilities, conservation of flora and fauna, historical and heritage sites and constitution of regional planning authority to prepare and implement regional plan for the above causes are under process.

(b) Master Plan/New Town Development Plan
          Master Plan/New Town Development Plan is a land use plan prepared for towns with regulatory guidelines to ensure orderly development of the planning area. In the broader sense, it aims at land use regulations and provision of effective road network, fixing alignment of bye-pass roads, ring roads etc. It involves a continuous process like deriving, organizing and presenting a broad comprehensive programme for urban development and renewal. It is designed to fulfill local objectives of the physical well being and also indirectly including social, economic aspects considering both the immediate need and those of foreseeable future. The development is regulated according to the Master Plan/ New Town Development Plan prepared for the particular town, which paves way for fair development of the town improving the quality of life of the urban populace. This department has so far prepared Master Plan/New Town Development Plan for 123 towns including all corporations except Chennai, all Municipalities except for 50 newly upgraded Municipalities and certain town panchayats. Review of these plans is taken up once in five years.

(c) Detailed Development Plan (DD Plan)

These are the micro level action plans that are in conformity with the master plans (macro level) prepared for areas vulnerable for rapid development.  The plan contains zoning of land in detail for specific land use, infrastructural facilities like park and play fields, small link roads, roads for proper traffic circulation, public purposes, commercial and industrial areas etc., to facilitate a balanced development within the ambit of the Master Plan.