Efficiency of Existing Land Use Planning Practices for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: A Study of Mysore City Master Plan 2031

Land use planning has historically been seen as the primary legal mechanism by which Indian cities manage expansion, distribute infrastructure, and reconcile conflicting demands on urban land. Following the implementation of the 2031 Agenda for Sustainable Development, master plans are now anticipated to extend beyond merely overseeing physical expansion; they are required to actualize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the urban level. This study evaluates the effectiveness of current land use planning methodologies in India by analyzing the Revised Master Plan (Revision-II) 2031 developed by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) for the Mysore-Nanjangud Local Planning Area. Through a comprehensive examination of the master plan report and land use proposals, this paper delineates specific planning stipulations — including housing distribution, the Eco Planning District, transportation initiatives, heritage preservation regulations, and economic zoning — in relation to the pertinent Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and assesses the degree to which the technical land use framework of the plan can achieve SDG-compliant results. The research indicates that although the Master Plan 2031 incorporates numerous elements aligned with SDG objectives, especially regarding housing, heritage, and green/blue infrastructure, it is deficient in explicit SDG indicators, monitoring systems, climate risk evaluations, and participatory processes as advocated by the New Urban Agenda and NITI Aayog's SDG localization framework. The study determines that the effectiveness of current land use planning in fulfilling the SDGs is limited and mostly coincidental, rather than intentional, and it suggests a series of strategies including indicator-based monitoring, SDG-specific development control regulations, and enhanced public engagement to better align statutory master plans with the 2031 Agenda.

land use planning; Sustainable Development Goals; master plan; Mysore; urban planning; SDG localisation; SDG 11.

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