The civic body's town planning committee has approved changes to the Makarba town planning (TP) scheme 204, covering plots designated as R3 (Residential-3) zone in the western part of Ahmedabad. According to sources, a significant change has been approved, allowing development permission for plots of 300 sq m in the R3 zone.

Previously, the minimum area required for development in the R3 zone was set at 1,000 sq m after the implementation of Comprehensive General Development Control Regulations (CGDCR) in 2017, but construction was permitted on plots of 500 sq m. Now, development permission will also be granted for plots of 300 sq m.

In the TP committee meeting held in Aug, all suggested changes by the town planning officer (TPO) for Makarba TP scheme 204 were accepted. A 40% deduction was decided for original plots, including prime location farmhouses owned by over 50 VVIP landowners. Modifications for reserving land for residential and commercial purposes were approved, resulting in 11.7% of plots being reserved, totalling an area of 13.10 lakh sq m. The AMC will receive 204 plots for residential and commercial sales, marking the first time the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has reserved so much land for sale in a single TP scheme. Sources from the corporation state that the draft for the TP scheme was created for 1,12,13,582 sq m of land in Makarba, Okaf, Vejalpur, and Ambli villages. This includes land for residential-1, residential-3, commercial, residential affordable housing, and agricultural zones. Although a 40% deduction standard was set for TP scheme 204, the average deduction standard was determined to be 35.09%. In cases where original plots received less deduction, a full 40% deduction will be applied during future redevelopment.

Development permission will be granted for plots of 300 sq m in the R3 zone. In Makarba TP scheme 204, final plots equal to the original plot size are given for land up to 300 sq m. For original plots between 300 and 500 sq m, a minimum final plot of up to 300 sq m is exempt from any deduction. But anything above 300 but less than 500 sq m will be eligible for deduction. For plots larger than 500 sq m, a 40% deduction is applied. In cases where betterment charges have been paid in approved layout plans, a deduction of 20% or 30% or less is applied. A 40% deduction condition will be imposed for future redevelopment.

What was the controversy? Around 15 years ago, Auda drafted TP scheme 204, covering 1121.19 hectares of land in Makarba, Sarkhej, Okaf, Ambli, and Vejalpur, which was approved by the state govt. At that time, Auda approved a policy of settlement agreements in the draft, allowing a full-sized final plot opposite an original plot and a 40% reduction on another original plot.

Approximately 50+ VVIP landowners received full-sized final plots opposite their original plots, while reductions were applied to original plots in other village boundaries based on settlement agreements. This led to allegations of corruption in the TP scheme. After 2007, the area of TP scheme 204 in Makarba was merged into the limits of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, but the controversy persisted.

The then chief city planner also informed govt of the scam in Makarba's TP Scheme 204 through a letter. Consequently, the then state govt TPOs were suspended. After 2017, the state govt stopped approving construction plans in TP scheme 204 and formed a committee of three TPOs to make amendments to the draft of the TP scheme. The process of making changes to the TP scheme was initiated, and the committee made various amendments to TP scheme 204. Eventually, the amendments were approved.