The Uttarakhand Government is actively planning new townships with central government backing, focusing on industrial, integrated, cyber, wellness, and tourism hubs in areas like Dehradun (Doiwala, Sahaspur), Udham Singh Nagar (Parag Farm), Pithoragarh, Gauchar, and Ramnagar. It will use a new Town Planning Scheme (TPS) to encourage voluntary land pooling with plot compensation for landowners, aiming for planned urban growth beyond initial proposals. Key projects include an industrial hub near Kashipur, an aero-township in Doiwala, a Cyber City in Sahaspur, and other specialised cities for film, wellness, and tourism.
This has been inspired by successful schemes in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The process will require district authorities to identify land, prepare a draft TPS, seek public input, and then landowners would be compensated with restructured plots (residential/commercial) instead of cash. The goal would be to ensure organised development with integrated infrastructure like roads, parks, water, and electricity. It may be recalled that the central government gave preliminary approval for two projects in 2023, with central teams set to conduct site assessments.
The state government has presented proposals for eight cities to the centre, with plans for several already finalised. The TPS, in the meanwhile, is a newer initiative approved by the cabinet in late 2025 to facilitate broader, planned urban expansion.
From what is known, so far, the key township projects are an Industrial Township at Parag Farm, Udham Singh Nagar, with the aim the aim of developing a major industrial hub, attracting significant investment and creating jobs. An Integrated Aero Township (Doiwala) to leverage proximity to the airport. Also, Cyber City in Sahaspur, Dehradun, to be a tech hub, as well as the Doon Twin City proposed on former tea garden land in Dehradun. A Film City is planned in Pithoragarh, near Naini Saini airport, focusing on the film industry, and a Wellness Township in Gauchar, Chamoli. A Tourism Township is planned in Ramnagar, Nainital.
That the government has managed to come up with such proposals reveals a level of sophistication in how the state is planning for the future. That a more liberal and realistic approach has been adopted towards land acquisition indicates there is a better understanding of the situation, as Uttarakhand does not have much inhabitable land left. Also, the focus should be on spreading out the existing population and not creating conditions in which mostly out of state residents are attracted here to the detriment of general conditions, as has happened in Goa. And, in the implementation, the state will require a sufficient number of Le Corbusiers to actualise the vision for the desired outcomes. Mere focus on dipping into the pot for personal gain will destroy an excellent idea.
