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Satellite imageries have been used to revise the sanctioned regional plan for Mumbai. A prototype GIS based monitoring system for Greater Mumbai Development plan: 1981-2001 has been developed by MMRDA

Land-use Planning for orderly development at three levels is stipulated in the State of Maharashtra under its Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966. Accordingly, a region, city or town and locality are the three units for which a Regional Plan, Development Plan and Town Planning scheme are prepared respectively. Scale and details prescribed for the formulation of the above three plans differ a great deal, however, basic steps like preparation of the existing land-use map, estimation of land requirement for projected population and socio-economic activities and involving public participation in the process are common. Applications of information technology, particularly, Remote Sensing (RS) for capturing the spatial data and Geographic Information System (GIS) for undertaking integrated analysis and presentation of spatial and associated attribute data are found to be of immense use in such planning tasks.

Select applications of RS and GIS with reference to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Planning are presented here to illustrate the potential of these technologies.

Regional Planning
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) covers an area of about 4355 sq.km. The population of MMR is 14.5 million as per 1991 census and is projected to increase to 22.4 million by the year 2011. The Regional Plan for MMR (1971-1991) was sanctioned in 1973. It is the statutory responsibility of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to revise the sanctioned regional plan for MMR. For this purpose satellite imageries from Landsat, SPOT and IRS-IA and PC based GIS software namely, ARC/INFO have been extensively used as described below.

In collaboration with the Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahemedabad, the Landsat and SPOT satellite imageries were interpreted and on that basis the existing land-use map at 1:50,000 scale showing the level-II classification of land-use such as built-up, industry, dense forest, sparse forest, scrub land, agriculture land, fallow land, plantation, marshy land with and without vegetation, salt pans, water body, etc. and Urban Sprawl map at 1:1,00,000 scale were prepared. The spatial data on soil type, soil texture, slope, physiography, flooding hazard zones, coastal proximity, altitude, land-use, industrial area distribution and environmental data on air pollution pertaining to SO2, SPM and NOX levels and non-spatial data were organised under the GIS at 1:2,50,000 scale.

The lowest level at which the spatial data are organised under the GIS are census sections in Greater Mumbai and villages in the rest of the region. The spatial data were digitised at 1:50,000 scale using the SOI topo-sheets. Village boundaries from the village maps at 1:4,000, 1:8,000, 1:5,000 and 1:10,000 scale obtained from the office of the Land Records and census section boundaries of Greater Mumbai at 1:50,000 scale were correlated to SOI topo-sheets to ensure the locational accuracy relative to the fixed features such as waterbody, road network, etc. The non-spatial data from census and other sources for the years 1971, 1981, and 1991 were linked to the spatial data. The thematic maps and statistics on decadal population growth, population distribution, employment, distribution of socio-economic facilities, agriculture and forest land-uses and traffic zonewise existing land-use distribution were generated to study both the spatial and temporal trends of development in each settlement in MMR.

Land suitability analyses, first with physical parameters alone and next with additional environmental parameters, were carried out with the help GIS utilities like overlaying, buffering and clipping. Using the existing and proposed major road network, accessibility analysis for the proposed second international airport at Mandva from different locations in the region was studied by employing network analysis facility of the GIS.

Results of all these studies served as an important input to the preparation of the Draft Regional Plan for MMR: 1996-2011 as depicted in Figure 1. In addition, the proposed land-use plan for MMR was transferred on the village maps at 1:10,000 scale to facilitate the citizens and other concerned groups to understand the implications of the proposed land-use plan and file the objections and suggestions and also the Planning Committee to evaluate those representations. The GIS has greatly helped at all stages of the regional plan preparation.

Urban Planning

Development Plan Monitoring: To assess the implementation of development plan for a city or town, GIS is found quite useful. For instance, a prototype GIS based monitoring system for Greater Mumbai Development Plan: 1981-2001 is prepared. Four Development Plan Sheets (1:4,000 scale) are digitised and joined. The following coverages are created and linked with the corresponding attribute data:

• Land-use zones marked for residential, commercial, industrial, open spaces, water bodies and other uses.
• Reservations for different facilities, both existing and proposed.
• Existing and proposed roads.
• Select development permissions in a residential zone.

A number of management information reports can therefore be produced to review the status of reservations and implementation of development permissions. Identification of potential traffic congestion points and assessment of demand for utility services and public amenities is simplified by such a system. Tracking of building permissions granted in each locality is thus possible and the database can be further utilised for property tax management.

Dombivali Water supply:Water distribution is one basic utility in whose planning, maintenance and management GIS is of significant assistance. This is seen from a study undertaken for water distribution system for the town of Dombivali in MMR. Relevant land-use map and water distribution network map at 1:2,000 scale are digitized. Built-up areas are stored as polygons, water pipes as arcs and elevated service reservoirs (ESR) and nodes as points. Attribute data like population, water demand, pipe diameter, length, material, date of installation and augmentation, height and capacity of ESR and so on, are attached to respective spatial unit.

The data have been extensively queried under ARC View module of the PC ARC/INFO software. An Information system of this kind would be useful for supporting managerial functions like preparing maintenance schedule, water supply routing decisions and evaluating the network upgradation options.

Bandra-Kurla Complex: MMRDA is appointed as a Special Planning Authority of this area for planning and development. The total area of the complex is 370 ha. and is divided in different blocks for planning purpose. The GIS provides a suitable framework for estate management. Figure 2 shows the proposed plan for G and GN blocks where an International Finance and Business Centre (IFBC) is being developed. The demarcated plot is kept as polygon. Attribute data such as floor area, FSI, Allottee, date of sale, price, land-use, estimated population and employment, etc are attached to each of the polygon. The data could be queried and progress reports on the disposed off plots in a variety of ways could be generated. Information on utilities such as water supply, drainage, gas supply, telecommunication, etc are being organised in the GIS environment.

Town Planning Scheme: Government of Maharashtra appointed a committee to formulate model legislation to modify the MRTP Act, 1966 with reference to Town planning Schemes (TPS) and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). A study area of about 6 ha. in Vile Parle, a suburb of Mumbai, is taken for this purpose. The cadastral map and the proposed layout of the given area are digitised at 1:1,000 scale as polygons. Using the overlay techniques, the old and final plot areas have been demarcated as shown in Figure 3. Maps and statistics supplied to the committee for framing the suitable policy.

Other Applications
To demonstrate the diverse use and the capabilities of GIS to the local authorities, the following pilot applications have been made:

• Greater Mumbai water supply network study at 1:500 scale for the selected area in ‘C’ ward
• Detailed floorwise existing land-use and network analysis for 1 sq.km. area around Kalyan station at 1:2,500 scale using aerial photographs
• Evaluation of the remaining potential for solid waste disposal sites at Deonar and Gorai in Greater Mumbai at 1:1,000 scale
• Analysis of air pollution data and estimation of population exposed to SO2, NOX, SPM for the year 1992-93 for Greater Mumbai at 1:50,000 scale
• Preparation of existing land-use and estimation of run-off for the heritage site Gharapuri (Elephanta) Island using aerial photograph, topo-sheet and satellite imagery at 1:10,000 scale
• Analysis of Mumbai’s property price data and FSI consumption for the year 1995 at 1:50,000 scale
• Preparation of rehabilitation and resettlement programme for the encroachments in Bandra-Kurla Complex at 1:1,000 scale

Current Applications
In the draft Regional Plan for MMR (1996-2011), it is proposed to build a Regional Information System within MMRDA where the spatial and related attribute data would be organised and shared with the local authorities, planning agencies and other institutions working in the region. In this direction, procurement of the IRS-1C satellite imagery at 1:50,000 scale (LISS-III data) and at 1:12,500 scale (PAN data) is completed. These data are being processed for updating the existing land-use and other developments taking place in the region. For instance, the work is in progress to build a completely codified and digitised transport network for entire MMR using the above data. Recently commissioned study to carry out mapping of the ecological sensitive mangrove plantation areas in outer MMR and building a database is another application.

Conclusion
On the basis of the experiences stated above it emerges that RS and GIS technologies offer tremendous advantage in carrying out land-use planning and management activities across the board. Technological advances are bound to increase the scope for applications. Requisite hardware, software, trained manpower and organisational support are however necessary for deriving the maximum benefit from these technologies in the field of regional and urban planning. Planning practices in India would be improved with the large-scale adoption of these technologies is our belief.

Note :Views expressed here are those of the authors alone and not of the MMRDA.

Authors
Dr. V. N. Patkar is working as an Operations Research Specialist in MMRDA since 1979 and is involved of O. R. techniques and GIS for urban planning and management. He has co-authored four books and has published over 100 research papers in the areas of urban planning, transport, telecommunications, O. R. and computer applications, mathematical programming and technology management.
D. Sampath Kumar is working as a planner in MMRDA since 1986. Design and implementation of the GIS for urban planning and management for Mumbai Metropolitan Region is his principal responsibility. He has co-authred 20 papers in the areas of remote sensing and GIS for urban and regional planning.