The Allahabad High Court has directed development and municipal authorities in Lucknow to clarify whether town planning and layout plans adequately provide for essential public facilities, including police stations, fire stations, hospitals, garbage collection points and electricity transformers.
A Division Bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla issued the directions while widening the scope of a suo motu public interest litigation concerning layout plans, town planning and the provision of necessary amenities.
The Court asked the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board and Lucknow Municipal Corporation to submit affidavits explaining how public infrastructure requirements are addressed while planning new residential colonies and towns.
Court Seeks Details of Public Safety and Healthcare Facilities
The Bench sought clarification on whether layout plans earmark land for police stations, police outposts, police booths, traffic booths, fire stations and medical clinics or hospitals.
It asked the authorities to explain whether these facilities are planned according to changing public requirements and experiences from existing residential developments.
Where layout plans do not contain such provisions, the authorities must disclose their proposals for making the facilities available.
The Court also suggested preparing a comprehensive roadmap for future town planning that anticipates the requirements of residents in newly developed colonies and towns.
Coordination With Electricity and Other Departments
The Bench sought information about consultations undertaken with electricity departments, corporations and other agencies before finalising layout plans, particularly concerning the allocation of space for electricity transformers.
The authorities must identify the departments, corporations and public undertakings consulted during the planning process and submit the applicable rules and guidelines.
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation has also been directed to file a separate affidavit identifying the amenities that should form part of residential layout plans.
Authorities Asked to Clarify 2025 Building By-Laws
During the hearing, counsel representing the LDA and the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board informed the Court that the building by-laws introduced in 2025 contained provisions relating to garbage disposal, transformer installations and other public facilities.
However, counsel could not confirm whether the by-laws specifically provided for designated spaces for electricity transformers.
The Bench directed the authorities to clarify the position through affidavits.
Earlier Concerns Over Garbage Disposal and Roadside Transformers
The suo motu PIL was initiated following concerns about shortcomings in urban planning, particularly the absence of designated areas for waste collection and electricity infrastructure.
In earlier proceedings, the municipal corporation had informed the Court that development authorities often failed to reserve space for garbage dumping or collection while preparing residential layouts. This created practical difficulties once the colonies were developed.
Similar problems arose from the lack of designated locations for electricity transformers, which were subsequently installed along roadsides, obstructing traffic and inconveniencing residents.
The High Court had previously emphasised that adequate public amenities were necessary to ensure healthy, hygienic and safe living conditions in residential colonies developed by public authorities.
The matter will be heard next on December 7.
