The Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act ,1995

Document Overview

The Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995 (Punjab Act No. 11 of 1995) is the parent legislation under which GMADA itself exists. It received the President's assent on 24 May 1995 and was enacted "to make provision for better planning and regulating the development and use of land in planning areas," including preparation of Regional Plans and Master Plans, and the constitution of a State Regional and Town Planning and Development Board along with Special Urban Planning and Development Authorities — the category under which the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority was later notified.

The Act has been amended three times since enactment: by Punjab Act 4 of 1996, Punjab Act 13 of 2003, and Punjab Act 30 of 2006.

Key Provisions & Structure

The Act runs to 17 chapters covering the full lifecycle of a planning authority's powers:

• Chapter I — Preliminary (short title, extent, definitions)
• Chapter II — Establishment of the Punjab Regional and Town Planning Board
• Chapter III — Establishment of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (and Special/New Town authorities, the route through which GMADA was constituted)
• Chapter IV — Relations between the State Government, the Board and the Authority
• Chapter V — Acquisition and disposal of land by the Authority
• Chapter VI — Power to evict persons from premises of the Authority
• Chapter VII — Finance, accounts and audit of the Authority
• Chapter VIII — Planning areas and planning agencies
• Chapter IX — Regional Plans
• Chapter X — Preparation and approval of Master Plans
• Chapter XI — Control of development and use of land in the planning area
• Chapter XII — Town development schemes
• Chapter XIII — Levy, assessment and recovery of development charges
• Chapter XIV — Control and development along scheduled roads
• Chapter XV — Abolition of the Punjab Housing Development Board and transfer of assets
• Chapter XVI — Inspection and penalties
• Chapter XVII — Miscellaneous provisions

Section 180 empowers the State Government to frame rules, and Section 182 empowers the Authority to frame its own regulations — the statutory basis for the General Rules, 1995 and the eight employee/committee regulations also listed on this site.

Official Publication Details

• Document Title: The Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995
• Category: Acts, Rules & Regulations — Act
• Statute No.: Punjab Act No. 11 of 1995
• Format & Length: Official PDF, 94 pages (includes amendments through 2006)
• Issuing Body: Government of Punjab, Department of Legal and Legislative Affairs
• Relevance: This is the founding statute of GMADA's own legal existence and planning powers.