Land use planning for a peri urban area adjacent to new town, Rajarhat

Abstract

The development of the New Town Project, Rajarhat, West Bengal will have a direct influence in the economy in the surrounding approximately 60 sq. km of village area. The participation in the jobs in the New Town mainly in the unskilled jobs will increase the economic standards of the people and accordingly the purchasing power will be increased. This will attract new development potentials on the village area. Initiatives are also been taken to develop the connectivity of the neighbouring villages as a scheme under neighbourhood development. This will make the village more viable alternative for investors. However due to this, as is the case of the fringe areas of Salt Lake which is situated within a 8km radius of New Town, there will be unhindered growth and development that shall in many ways do more harm and less good. The location of the case study area is uniquely sandwiched between two chunks of land of the New Town Project, leading to a speculation that there was collective resistance by the villagers to integrate with HIDCO.