Jana Urban Space works with national, state, and urban local governments to strengthen statutory planning, and planning instruments that guide urban growth and redevelopment in India. Grounded in on-the-ground conditions, our work moves beyond plan-making as an end in itself. We support governments in moving from fragmented growth to coordinated, place-based development and in addressing structural gaps in India’s planning paradigm, particularly the weak links between plan preparation, implementation, and enforcement.
Our work includes the preparation of master plans and Neighbourhood Improvement Plans (NIPs), creation of GIS-based spatial databases, and development of planning and regulatory instruments such as building bye-laws and form-based codes. Together, these tools help cities shape land use, guide infrastructure planning, and manage neighbourhood growth and change over time.
JUSP’s approach balances strategic city growth with physical design. We work with governments to develop planning frameworks that are flexible yet structured, moving away from rigid, top-down plans while avoiding unregulated, ad hoc development. At the core is an integrated strategic framework guided by four principles of 4Es: Economy, Equity, Environment, and Engagement, ensuring planning decisions protect ecological systems, support livelihoods and economic activity, enable fair access to land, housing, infrastructure, and public spaces, and institutionalize citizen engagement in shaping cities.
