Madhya Pradesh govt to approve transit-oriented development policy

The state cabinet is set to give in-principle approval to transit-oriented development (TOD) policy. The measure, which comes ahead of new master plan for Bhopal, would allow increased floor area ratio (FAR) in new and existing buildings along select locations near public transport nodes. Speaking at first apex conference of smart city CEOs held in Bhopal, urban administration and housing development principal secretary Vivek Agarwal informed that the TOD policy would be placed before the state cabinet for its approval. The measure is likely to have a bearing on land use and planning. Broadly, TODs would result in coordinated planning policies implemented consistently at varying geographic scales-regional, city, corridor, neighbourhoods. Sources said increase in existing differential floor-space index (FSI) would be permitted in locations which are no more than six minutes walking distance away from a public transport node. Once approved, the TOD would have a substantial bearing on cities like Bhopal the master plan of which are in the works.