Infrastructure Planning
-URP 114
(Urban and Regional Planning)
By- Ar. Navin Solanki
([Link], [Link])
Social Infrastructure
Social Infrastructure
• Social infrastructure refers to
facilities and services that
support social well-being and
quality of life.
• It includes education,
healthcare, recreation, safety,
housing, and welfare services.
• Plays a crucial role in
sustainable urban
development and livability.
Importance Social Infrastructure
• Essential for Human Development:
• Provides education, healthcare, and recreational spaces to improve the
quality of life.
• Enhances Economic Growth:
• A well-developed social infrastructure attracts investments, improves
workforce productivity, and reduces social inequality.
• Improves Quality of Life:
• Ensures access to basic services like clean water, sanitation, and
community development programs.
• Supports Urban Development:
• Essential for balanced growth in cities, reducing slum development and
enhancing sustainability.
Types of Social Infrastructure:
Educational Facilities – Schools, colleges, universities, research centers.
Healthcare Facilities – Hospitals, clinics, health centers, blood banks.
Recreational and Cultural Facilities – Parks, playgrounds, libraries,
museums, theaters.
Public Safety and Security Facilities – Police stations, fire stations,
disaster management centers.
Housing and Welfare Services – Affordable housing, old-age homes,
orphanages.
A. Educational Infrastructure
• Schools (Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary)
• Colleges and Universities
• Libraries, Research Centers, and Vocational Institutes
URDPFI Standards:
• 1 Primary School per 5,000 population
• 1 Higher Secondary School per 1 lakh population
• 1 University per 10 lakh population
B. Healthcare Infrastructure
• Primary Health Centers (PHCs)
• Community Health Centers (CHCs)
• Hospitals (General, Multi-specialty, Super-specialty)
• URDPFI Standards:
• 1 Sub-center per 5,000 population
• 1 Primary Health Center per 30,000 population
• 1 District Hospital per 10 lakh population
C. Recreational and Cultural Infrastructure
• Parks, Playgrounds, and Green Spaces
• Sports Complexes, Gymnasiums
• Auditoriums, Museums, Cultural Centers
• URDPFI Standards:
• 10-12 sqm per capita of recreational space
• 1 neighborhood park per 10,000 population
D. Public Safety and Security Infrastructure
• Police Stations, Fire Stations
• Disaster Management Centers, Emergency Shelters
• Cyber Security and Women Safety Centers
• URDPFI Standards:
• 1 Police Station per 90,000 population
• 1 Fire Station per 2 lakh population
E. Housing and Welfare Infrastructure
• Affordable Housing Projects
• Old Age Homes, Orphanages
• Community Centers, Social Welfare Offices
• URDPFI Standards:
• Minimum 20-25% housing for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in urban areas
Social Infrastructure Planning Considerations
• Accessibility: Ensuring facilities are within walkable distances.
• Inclusivity: Serving all socio-economic groups.
• Sustainability: Energy-efficient buildings and green infrastructure.
• Integration with Land Use Planning: Proper zoning and
distribution of services.
Social Infrastructure (URDPFI Fuidelines)
• These facilities shall be provided with 25% additional population.
• Incase of metro cities, these facilities serves the regional demand
• Incase of small & medium towns ,the villages & surrounding areas depends on them
Educational facilities:-
Pre-primary to Secondary Education
• Pre primary, nursery school 1 for 2500 population
• Senior secondary school 1 for 7500 population
Technical Education centre
• 1 such centre provided for every 10 lakh pop. Include 1 industrial training institute and 1
polytechnic institute.
College
• 1 for 1.25 lacs population
• No of student 1000 to 1500
• Area 1.80 Ha.
University Campus with Area of 10 [Link] be provided.
Social Infrastructure
• These facilities shall be provided with 25% additional population.
• Incase of metro cities, these facilities serves the regional demand
• Incase of small & medium towns ,the villages & surrounding areas depends on them
Educational facilities:-
Pre-primary to Secondary Education
• Pre primary, nursery school 1 for 2500 population
• Senior secondary school 1 for 7500 population
Technical Education centre
• 1 such centre provided for every 10 lakh pop. Include 1 industrial training institute and 1
polytechnic institute.
College
• 1 for 1.25 lacs population
• No of student 1000 to 1500
• Area 1.80 Ha.
University Campus with Area of 10 [Link] be provided.
Health care Facilities :
a) General hospital
Hospital for 2.5 lakh population capacity 500 beds
Initially the provision may be for 300 beds
Area for hospital 4 ha
Area for residential accommodation 2 ha
Total area 6 ha
b) Intermediate hospital
1 hospital for 1 lakh population capacity
Area for hospital 2.70 ha
Area for residential accommodation 1 ha
Total area 3.70 ha
c) Nursing home, child welfare and maternity center
1 for 0.45 to 1 lakh population
Capacity 25 to 30 beds
Area 0.20 to 0.30 ha
d) Dispensary
1 for 0.15 lakh population
Area 0.08 to 0.12 ha
Socio-Cultural facilities
a) Community room
1 for 5,000 population area 660 Sq..m
b) Community hall and library
1 for 15,000 population area 2000 sq.m
c) Recreational club
1 for 1 lakh population area 10,000 sq.m
d) Music, dance and drama centre
1 for 1 lakh population - area 1,000 sq.m
e) Meditation and spiritual centre
1 for 1 lakh population area 5000 sq.m
f) Socio-cultural centre
1 for 10 lakh population area 15 ha
Distribution services
a) Petrol pump
• One petrol pump for 150 ha of gross residential areas in residential zone
• One petrol pump for 40 ha of gross industrial area
• Two petrol pumps in each district centre
• One petrol pump in each community centre
b) Milk distribution
• One milk booth for 5,000 population.
c) LPG Godown
• One gas Godown for 40-50 thousand population is sufficient for any size of town.
• The major concern for its storage and distribution is the location which shall be away
from the residential areas.
Police
Police station
1 for 90,000 population
Area inclusive of essential residential accommodation 1.5 ha
Police post
1 for 0.4 to 0.5 lakh population
Area inclusive of essential residential accommodation 0.16 ha
District office and battalion
1for 10 lakh population 0.80 ha
Area for district office area for battalion 4 ha
Total area 4.80 ha
Police line 1 for 20 lakh population 4 to 6 ha
District jail 1 for 10 lakh population - area 10 ha
Fire
• 1 fire station or sub fire station within 1 to 3 km to be provided for 2
lakh population
• Area for fire station with essential residential accommodation 1 ha
• Area for sub- fire-station with essential residential accommodation
0.60 ha
Challenges in Social Infrastructure
Development
• Urban population growth and demand-supply gap.
• Land scarcity and high real estate costs.
• Insufficient funding and investment.
• Coordination between government agencies and private sector.
Principles for Locating Educational Facilities
• Proximity to Residential Areas
• Schools should be within a walkable distance (0.5–1 km for primary schools, 2–3 km
for secondary schools).
• Higher education institutions may be located in centralized or specialized
education zones.
• Accessibility and Connectivity
• Well-connected by roads, public transport, and pedestrian pathways.
• Presence of safe crossings, cycle tracks, and bus stops near schools.
• Land Use Compatibility
• Located in low-noise, pollution-free environments away from industrial zones.
• Integrated with parks and playgrounds for recreational use.
Principles for Locating Educational Facilities
• Capacity and Population Density
• One primary school per 5,000 people (URDPFI guidelines).
• One higher secondary school per 1 lakh population.
• Safety and Environment Considerations
• Away from high-traffic roads and hazardous zones.
• Adequate open spaces, playgrounds, and greenery.
Principles for Locating Healthcare Facilities
• Hierarchy of Healthcare Services
• Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) – Within 2-3 km of residential areas.
• Community Health Centers (CHCs) – Located at the sector or ward level
for multiple neighborhoods.
• District Hospitals & Specialty Hospitals – Centrally located to serve a larger
urban area.
• Accessibility & Transport Connectivity
• Well-connected by major roads, public transport, and emergency routes.
• Presence of ambulance services and emergency access points.
• Population-Based Distribution
Principles for Locating Healthcare Facilities
• 1 sub-center per 5,000 population (for basic healthcare needs).
• 1 PHC per 30,000 population.
• 1 district hospital per 10 lakh population.
• Integration with Other Services
• Located near pharmacies, diagnostic centers, and wellness facilities.
• Proximity to emergency services like fire stations and police stations.
• Environmental & Safety Considerations
• Away from industrial pollution zones and high-noise areas.
• Adequate waste disposal systems for biomedical waste.
• Designed for climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
Mapping & Planning Approach
• GIS & Spatial Planning
• Use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze population density,
accessibility, and transport networks.
• Identify underserved areas for new facilities.
• Zoning & Urban Development Plans
• Allocate land for schools and hospitals in Master Plans & Development Plans.
• Ensure mixed-use zoning for better integration with residential and commercial
areas.
• Smart City & Technology Integration
• Deploy e-health services and smart education hubs in urban areas.
• Use public-private partnerships (PPP) for efficient resource allocation.
Scalogram in Urban Planning
• A scalogram is a graphical tool used in urban planning to analyze and represent the
hierarchical distribution of services and facilities across different settlements or urban areas. It
helps planners identify service gaps and determine the most suitable locations for new social
infrastructure.
How Scalogram Works:
• A matrix-based approach that plots various facilities (education, healthcare, recreation)
against different urban settlements.
• Highlights which services are available in each location and which are missing.
• Helps in planning hierarchical distribution of infrastructure based on settlement size and
function.
• Application in Social Infrastructure Planning:
• Ensures equitable distribution of schools, hospitals, parks, and other amenities.
• Identifies deficient areas needing urgent development.
• Helps in prioritizing investments for new facilities.
Thank you
Ar. Navin Solanki
(Architect- Planner)
[Link]@[Link]