A delegation from the Practicing Engineers Association (PEA) and the Institution of Engineers (India), Jabalpur Local Centre, participated in a consultative meeting on the Jabalpur Development Plan (Master Plan) organized by Jaywardhan Rai, Deputy Director, Town and Country Planning, Jabalpur. The delegation presented a 30-point suggestion report aimed at ensuring the city’s sustainable growth and safeguarding public interest. The delegation was led by Dr Manish Dubey, President, PEA and Dr Sanjay Verma Secretary, accompanied by National Executive Member (MP), IEI, Rakesh Rathore and others present while from the Department of Town and Country Planning, Engineers RS Patel and Rajesh Diwan. Members informed that with 62 additional villages merged into the municipal boundary, the city now has nearly 80 lakes.

 

The report emphasized preserving and enhancing these lakes for groundwater recharge and promoting eco-tourism. It was recommended to include a detailed soil map of Jabalpur city under Section 1.7.2 of the plan, showcasing the city’s geological and soil characteristics. Following the 1997 earthquake, Jabalpur was categorized as a seismically sensitive zone. The report called for microzonation and soil strength mapping across the city to enable engineers to implement earthquake-resistant construction based on soil conditions, aligned with national standards. Along with the Narmada River, its tributaries—Gaur, Pariyat, and Hiran—should be protected and revived.

 

The city should be developed with a focus on trade, industry, and education to transform it into a prominent metro city. Key tourist attractions like Bhedaghat, Bargi, Payali, Dumna, and Madan Mahal should be promoted through structured one-day, two-day, and three-day tourism packages. Ongoing infrastructure projects like the Damoh Naka–Madan Mahal flyover, Katanga and Shobhapur flyovers, Ring Road, and Greater Ring Road, though not currently included in the Master Plan, should be integrated and future projects should be incorporated. Development plans must align with India’s centenary of independence in 2047, keeping long-term urban needs in mind. The report stressed improved traffic management, junction development, flood mitigation, environmental preservation, and effective sanitation strategies. Considering Jabalpur’s earthquake risk, structural designers should be empowered under the Madhya Pradesh Bhumi Vikas Adhiniyam, 1984, for unrestricted planning and design, ensuring safe construction practices from small homes to large buildings.