Urban Development Authority (India)

Urban Development Authorities are statutory civic bodies created for the development of planned infrastructure and housing projects in cities of India. The foundation for current Indian Urban Development Authorities is based on the structure designed during the British colonial era as a result of the Bombay plague in 1896. An Urban Development Authority for each town is created per the 74th amendment to the Constitution of India. The authority consists of planners and bureaucrats who are specialised in civic planning. The officials of the authority work with state governments in town planning activities.

History and objective
Each Urban Development Authority consists of a group of individuals and agencies who are responsible for planning infrastructure development in Indian cities. The individuals are specialised in various aspects of town planning activities.

Activities
Urban Development Authority planners are responsible for the following.


 * Ensuring that town planning schemes are implemented.
 * Creating and implementing development plans for notified areas.
 * Creation and implementation of urban area development initiatives like affordable housing and slum-dwellers development.
 * Implementation of Local Area Plans for the improvement of existing areas.
 * Modernising building laws.
 * Promoting transit-oriented development.
 * Inclusion of conversion of heritage buildings in local area plans.
 * Social and economic development planning.

Challenges
The Urban Development Authority planners are faced with following challenges:


 * Meeting housing needs of urban settlers.
 * Investment on development initiatives.
 * Resolving drinking water issues.
 * Resolving sanitation issues.

List of authorities
Urban Development Authority exist for the following cities in India.