Research & Consultancy

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning at SPA Bhopal conducts impactful research addressing key urban and regional issues across India. In collaboration with government bodies, it develops evidence-based strategies using spatial technologies and interdisciplinary approaches. The research focuses on sustainable development, climate resilience, governance, and innovative planning solutions.

Preparation of Regional Plan for Thanjavur Region

Sponsoring Agency: Directorate of Town & Country Planning, Government of Tamil Nadu

Project Type: Consultancy

Principal Investigator: Dr Binayak Choudhury

Project Team: Dr. Rama Pandey, Dr. Ajay Khare, Dr. Kshama Puntambekar, Dr. Vishakha Kawathekar, Dr. Ashfaque Alam, Mr. Paulose N K, Mr. Vibhore Bakshi

In order to make the State the largest contributor to India’s GDP (from the present second position), the Government of Tamil Nadu aspires to achieve a sustained economic growth of at least 15% per year through a vibrant agriculture, stronger manufacturing, and supportive service sector by harnessing the potential of all its regions. Given its natural resource endowment, Thanjavur can well play a significant role in the State’s endeavour to become the largest economy of the country. Although Thanjavur region has a natural advantage in retaining its primacy in the State for agricultural produce, it can very well become one of the State’s most vibrant regions given its rich heritage in the production of cultural goods(handloom and handicrafts), huge potential for spiritual and adventure tourism and last but not the least, huge prospect for agro based and non metallic mineral based industries. For the overall development of the region, a regional plan needs to be prepared and implemented wherein the planned spatial interventions shall exploit the hitherto untapped potential of the region to the region’s planned development across space and across sectors.

GIS Based Master Plan for Border Town Moreh for 2043,

Manipur

Sponsoring Agency: Manipur Govt. Department of Town Planning

Project Type: Consultancy Research

Principal Investigator: Dr Nikhil Ranjan Mandal

Project Team: Dr. Ashfaque Alam, Dr. Mayank Dubey, Ms. Zoya Imaniya, Mr. Rahul Uikey, Ms. Saumya, Ms. Sneha Kumari , Ms. Sweta

Moreh Town is a border town located on the India–Myanmar border in the Tengnoupal district of the Indian state of Manipur. As a rapidly developing international trade point with integrated customs and international immigration checkpoint, Moreh Town plays an important role in India's Look East Policy, trade and commerce under ASEAN–India Free Trade Area, India-Myanmar relationship, India–Myanmar–Thailand road connectivity (Asian Highway-1) and Trans-Asian Railway connectivity.

After the 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election, the newly elected state government decided to develop the urban infrastructure and amenities in Moreh Town, considering its prospects as an international transit hub.

For fulfilling the above decision, the Town planning Department, Government of Manipur entrusted the Urban and Regional Planning Department, SPA Bhopal with the task of preparing a GIS Based Master Plan for Border Town of Moreh in Manipur State with the vision of developing Moreh Town “as a vibrant transit hub and a tourism destination, with a focus on medical tourism for fostering economic growth”. The plan period is 2023-43.

Design Innovation Centre - Shelter for All

Sponsoring Agency: Ministry of Education

Project Type: Research

Principal Investigator: Dr Sheuli Mitra

Project Team: Binayak Choudhury, Tapas Mitra, Ajay Vinodia, Anand Wadwekar, Kshama Puntambekar, Sukanta Majumdar, Rama Pandey, Amit Chatterjee, Karna Sengupta, Udit Sarkar, Souvick Pramanick

The Shelter for All project under the Design Innovation Centre, funded by the Ministry of Education (MoE), is being undertaken at SPA Bhopal since March 17, 2016. The project intends to innovate in the process and product delivery of Affordable Housing by developing a Rapid Appraisal Toolkit for assessing Housing Transformation (RAFTAR). The web-based application has been developed and is in the pilot stage. The algorithm for the application was granted a patent in December 2024.

GIS-Based Master Plans in Uttarakhand

The School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, is spearheading the preparation of GIS-based Master Plans for selected towns in Uttarakhand under the supervision of the Town and Country Planning Department, Government of Uttarakhand. The initiative aims to guide sustainable development and planned urban growth in environmentally sensitive and socio-economically significant in hilly regions.

1. Gairsain Planning Area- 2071

Sponsoring Agency: Town and Country Planning Department, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Project Type: Consultancy

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kshama Puntambekar

Project Team: Dr. Ajay Khare, Dr. Binayak Choudhury, Dr. Gaurav Vaidya, Dr. Gayatri Nanda, Dr. Mohit Dev, Mr. Govind M.P., Dr. Apurv Shrivastava, Dr. Pramod Dubey, Mr. Praveen Jaiswal, and Mr. Ram Yadav

Gairsain, envisioned as the future summer capital, is undergoing a detailed planning exercise to manage spatial development and resource optimization while preserving the ecological balance. The project focuses on minimizing the conversion of agricultural and forest lands by enhancing existing infrastructure and guiding regulated urban expansion.

2. Cluster 2 – 2043

Sponsoring Agency: Town and Country Planning Department, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Project Type: Consultancy

Principal Investigator: Dr. Gaurav Vaidya

Project Team: Dr. Nikhil Ranjan Mandal, Dr. Vishakha Kawathekar, Dr. Kshama Puntambekar, Dr. Ashfaque Alam, Dr. Shomit Bade, Ar. Karna Sengupta, Dr. Apurv Shrivastava, Dr. Mohit Dev, Mr. Amit Bansal, Mr. Praveen Jaiswal, and Mr. Ram Yadav

Covering nine towns across Pithoragarh, Champawat, and Bageshwar districts, including Pithoragarh, Dharchula, Didihat, Gangolihat, Berinag, Banbasa, Tanakpur, Bageshwar, and Garud. This cluster aims to enhance local potential in tourism, cultural heritage, improve connectivity, and promote sustainable agriculture practices. The Master Plans will include land-use zoning, infrastructure upgrades, and strategies for balanced regional development. A geospatial approach ensures informed decision-making and targeted interventions.

Preparation of Local Area Plans for the Transit Oriented Development Zones of the proposed metro routes in Bhopal and Indore

Sponsoring Agency: MP Metro Rail Corporation Project

Project Type: Consultancy

Principal Investigator: Dr Paulose NK & Dr Mayank Dubey

The "Preparation of Local Area Plans for the Transit Oriented Development Zones of the proposed metro routes in Bhopal and Indore" is a consultancy project undertaken by the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal, in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (MPMRCL). The project focuses on developing comprehensive local area plans (LAPs) that align with the upcoming metro rail networks in Bhopal and Indore. By emphasizing transit-oriented development (TOD), the project aims to foster sustainable urban growth, enhance connectivity, and optimize land use around metro stations, contributing to the transformation of these cities into modern, liveable urban centres.

IMPRESS: Enhancing Provision of Rental Housing through Public-Private Partnership for Indian Cities

Sponsoring Agency: ICSSR

Project Type: Research

Principal Investigator: Dr. Arti Jaiswal

Co-PI: Dr. Ajay Vinodia

The IMPRESS project, officially titled “Enhancing Provision of Rental Housing through Public-Private Partnership for Indian Cities”, is a consultancy initiative funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), operating under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The project addresses the critical need for rental housing provision in Indian cities for the case of Bhopal, which is an upcoming metro city and Mumbai, which is a megacity. Looking at the rental housing requirements of both type of cities, the project aims to develop an integrated framework and strategies for Rental Housing provisions through PPP. Thus contributing to National goal of “Housing for All”.

Building Climate Resilience in Urban India: Review of Policies, Regulations and Governance for Climate-Sensitive Spatial Planning

Sponsoring Agency: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Project Type: Research Grant

Principal Investigator: Dr. Paulose N. Kuriakose

Project Team: Dr. Binayak Choudhury and Dr. Mayank Dubey

It is a multi-country and multi stakeholder study involving research agencies from China, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. From India SPA Bhopal and TERI would working with NIUA, MoHUA and GIZ for different research work packages like, Policy instruments for climate-sensitive urban development (WP IND 1), Governance for urban climate action (WP IND 2), Climate services for evidence-based planning and monitoring (WP IND 3) and International and regional peer-learning and exchange (WP IND 4). The grant is available for a period of two years from April 2025.