AMDAVAD

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The article's core argument is that Ahmedabad (Amdavad) succeeded where many Indian cities struggled because it relied on a relatively obscure planning mechanism called the Town Planning Scheme (TPS) rather than depending primarily on compulsory land acquisition. (Dailyhunt)

What is the "tool nobody talks about"?

The Town Planning Scheme (TPS) is a land pooling and land readjustment system with roots in the old Bombay Town Planning legislation of 1915. Instead of the government buying or seizing land parcel by parcel, landowners contribute part of their land to a common pool. After roads, parks, utilities, schools, and other public spaces are laid out, owners receive back a smaller but far more valuable serviced plot. The retained land helps fund infrastructure. (Dailyhunt)

Why is it considered important?

According to studies of Ahmedabad's growth:

• It allowed expansion with planned roads and infrastructure before development occurred.

• It provided land for public amenities, utilities, open spaces, and affordable housing.

• It reduced some of the delays and conflicts associated with compulsory acquisition.

• It became much more widely used after amendments to Gujarat's planning laws in 1999. (wri.org)

The result was that large peripheral areas were urbanized with a more organized street network and infrastructure than is common in many rapidly growing Indian cities. (WRI India)

Why Ahmedabad stands out

The article argues that Ahmedabad combined:

• Higher development capacity (higher FSI in many areas),

• Expansion of urbanizable land,

• Consistent use of TPS,

• Long-term implementation of projects such as the Sabarmati Riverfront and BRT system. (Dailyhunt)

The broader lesson is not that Ahmedabad is perfect, but that institutional continuity and execution matter more than grand master plans. The city repeatedly used the same planning mechanism over decades and became increasingly effective at it. (Dailyhunt)

Important caveat

Urban scholars also note that TPS is not a miracle solution. Critics point to concerns about transparency, inclusion of informal settlements, equity for all affected groups, and the balance between public needs and private land rights. Ahmedabad's planning process has received both praise and criticism in academic literature. (Taylor & Francis Online)

In one sentence

Ahmedabad's "quiet discipline" was largely the disciplined use of Town Planning Schemes—pooling land, building infrastructure first, and sharing the gains from urbanization—rather than relying solely on acquisition and reactive growth. (Dailyhunt)