CDP link - JnNURM

Preparation of City development Plan (CDP) for Meerut
in the state of Uttar Pradesh under JNNURM
City Development Plan
Final Report
3.0 City Profile
Meerut city, the head quarter of Meerut District, situated 70 km from Delhi, has been a
place of historical, cultural and adminstrative importance since the time imemeorial. The
city plays a significant role in different areas of economy in the modern times that
includes trade & commerce, tourism & pilgrimage, transportation & distribution.
The city lies south of the cantonment, and owes its modern importance to its selection by
the British government as the site of a great military station. The cantonment, established
in 1806, was the headquarters of the 7th division of the northern army. The administration
of the cantonment area and running of its urban and other functions is still outside the
jurisdiction of Meerut Nagar Nigam.
Unplanned development of the cities marked with the falling far below the norms in terms
of service levels in delivering citizen services whether good roads or clean environment.
Municipalities/ULBs vested with authority to plan and implement infrastructure schemes
also lack in co-ordination among them. These factors are resulting in the falling levels of
service delivery.
Meerut is a major part of NCR on the basis of its industrial and location base. NCR board
is playing a major role in strengthening the financial aspect of the city by proving funds
and loans for the development of the city. The main emphasis by NCR board for Meerut
is on the proposal of Ghaziabad - Meerut Express way for improving the road
connectivity of the city on the basis of importance of NCR. Further consideration of
proposing IRBTS and RRTS for Meerut is under process for improving the connectivity
and accessibility of Meerut city.
3.1.1. Population Profile
As per 2001 Census the city of Meerut has attained the status of a metropolitan city i.e.
million plus population city. In exact terms the population was recorded to be 11.61 lakhs
which was less than 5.5 lakhs in 1981 and nearly 8.5 lakhs until 1991.
During the decades 1951-61 and 1961-71, the population in the city grew by 23.14%
and 26.08% respectively against the national growth rates of 26.14% and 38.23% during
the same periods. Between 1971 and 2001, there has been a rapid increase in population
in the city which exceeded over 58% in the 70s, when the population growth in Meerut
surpassed the national average.
The increase in population rate during the decade of 1991-2001 was 37.8%, which was
less than that of the previous two decades and a little more than the national average of
36.17%. It is evident from the above analysis that the population rate decreased steadily
in the recent years. The drop in population growth in Meerut can be attributed to the
development of new housing areas in several competing towns in the neighboring areas
which are indeed equipped with better and modern infrastructure facilities such as
NOIDA, Ghaziabad, Greater NOIDA and Gurgaon. Meerut on the other hand could not
continue the phase of infrastructure development started in late 60’s and 70’s.
The main reason for this phenomenon was the creation of numerous housing and
industrial development plans by various development authorities, development of
infrastructure facilities and the arrival of the green revolution in the agricultural sector in
several parts of the west Uttar Pradesh, which resulted in immigration of population from
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