Speculative Planning: Agrarian-Urban Transformation in Peri-Urban areas Case study of Land Pooling Policy, Delhi

Abstract

Much of the urban transformation in major metropolitan cities of India is taking place on the peripheral/peri-urban boundaries of the city. The urbanisation of agricultural lands has been identified as a key state strategy to undertake planned development in metropolitan cities but this has revealed considerable change over time - shifting from a state-led comprehensive planning towards a more market-led speculative planning approach. The research aims to understand the shifting role of the state in development of peri-urban areas through examining land pooling policy introduced by the Delhi Development Authority. Peri-urban areas are agrarian - urban frontiers marked by unique historical, social, cultural, political, spatial and economic relations rooted in local contextual settings. Focusing on one peri-urban village in Delhi, the study examines the manifestation of the policy on ground and over time, as well as assesses how local agrarian relations and equations have a large bearing on the development pattern that emerges in response to state-led land development. The shifting role of the state in the planning process, has a large bearing on the relations and equations between different stakeholder groups and vice versa. The research concludes by reflecting on the change in planning approach, and the implications of different stakeholder groups towards this new model of land development.