Infrastructure Planning
8.4. Social Infrastructure
The quality of life in any urban centre depends upon the availability of and
accessibility to quality social infrastructure. These include the following
infrastructure:
a) Education facilities
b) Healthcare facilities
c) Socio Cultural facilities
d) Recreational facilities
e) Sports Facilities
f) Distribution Services
g) Police Safety
8.4.1. Provision of Infrastructure
Hierarchy: The provision of social amenities in any urban area shall consider the
regional bearings; as small towns cater to the requirements (especially of higher level
facilities) of surrounding villages, medium size towns cater to small towns and
villages and so on. However, in case of large and metro cities, certain apex level
facilities significantly cater to regional requirements in addition to the city demand. In
order to efficiently plan for cities & regions, alternatives, which could be considered,
may be to provide:
a) Amenities for 25% additional population overall as a cushion, or
b) Exclude such apex level facilities from the total estimated needs provision.
In distribution of infrastructure, population plays the guiding role and therefore,
indication of population served by a facility or service is given. In some cases
depending upon the regional requirements, a higher order facility becomes necessary
in a lower order settlement. A comprehensive list of facilities at each hierarchy is
given in Appendix N of Volume II B.
Location of social infrastructure should be decided by local authority taking into
account walkable distances. Maintenance of such micro‐level facilities should be, as
far as possible, handed over to RWA / housing co‐operative societies with the
provisions of direct involvement of women.
Proximity: The local community participation shall be encouraged, especially
women, in management of the local level facility units to promote efficient utilization
and upkeep of the facilities. These local level facilities shall be provided at a
preferable 300 m to 800 m walkable distance (located within 5‐15 minutes) to
promote pedestrianisation and reduction in vehicular use.
It is observed that a number of lower level social amenities particularly in regard to
education and health infrastructure operate in private residential premises due to
their proximity to the area of demand. The potential of such practices shall be
assessed to find out the actual needs, which shall be reliable input for arriving at
realistic norms as well as for providing adequate number of sites for such facilities.
356 URDPFI Guidelines, 2014. Ministry of Urban Development
Infrastructure Planning
Multiple uses: The possibilities for multiple uses of social amenities may be
considered depending upon the compatibility of the activities and acceptance of the
society, such as the school auditoriums can be utilised for public seminars in off
working hours. The multiple uses can be for private and public owned
land/properties. The possibility of multiple activities in public facilities may also be
considered such as in case of bus terminal, the above floors can be provided for use of
staff residential, post office, courier services, ticket booking offices, retail markets etc.
Utilisation threshold: It is observed that the built up facilities for social amenities
are often underutilised and lie vacant. A consideration of 80% utilization of existing
facilities can be made mandatory before approving plan of new facility for similar use
in a particular area.
In case of vacated properties, for efficient utilisation of the built up spaces; change in
use permission can be considered.
Selfsufficiency: In planning of social infrastructure the provisions given in ‘National
Mission on Sustainable Habitat’ shall be considered such as utilisation of renewable
sources of energy like solar roof top panels, rain water harvesting etc. The facilities
can be designed for self‐sufficiency and can also generate revenue by selling of
surplus resources.
The planning norms for social infrastructure as suggested below are based on the
provisions given in National Building Code 2005 and the current guidelines from
respective departments. It is suggested that the latest guidelines shall be referred at
the time of urban and regional plan preparation. The plot area requirement given
herein is suggestive and may vary depending upon the size, geography and land
availability of an urban centre.
8.4.2. Education Facilities
[Link]. Pre‐primary to Secondary Education
Table 8.48: Norms for Pre Primary to Secondary Education
Population
Student
Sr. No. Category Served per Area Requirement Other Controls
Strength
unit
1. Pre Primary, ‐‐ 2500 0.08 ha To be located near a park
Nursery School
2. Primary School 500 5000 Area per School = 0.40 Ha Playfield area with a
(class I to V) (NBC, 2005) a) School building area = 0.20 Ha minimum of 18 m x 36 m to
be ensured for effective
b) Playfield Area = 0.20 Ha
play
3. Senior Secondary 1000 7500 Area per School = 1.80 Ha (NBC, Playfield area with a
School (VI to XII) 2005) minimum of 68 m x 126 m
a) School building area = 0.60 Ha to be ensured for effective
play
b) Playfield Area = 1.00 Ha
c) Parking Area = 0.20 Ha
URDPFI Guidelines, 2014. Ministry of Urban Development 357
Infrastructure Planning
Population
Student
Sr. No. Category Served per Area Requirement Other Controls
Strength
unit
4. Integrated School 1500 90,000 – 1 Area per School = 3.50 Ha To be located near a sport
without hostel lakh a) School building area = 0.70 Ha facility
facility (Class I‐
b) Playfield Area = 2.50 Ha
XII)
c) Parking Area = 0.30 Ha
5. Integrated School 1500 90,000 – 1 Area per School = 3.90 Ha To be located near a sport
with hostel facility (NBC, lakh a) School building area = 0.70 Ha facility
(Class I‐XII) 2005) b) Playfield Area = 2.50 Ha
c) Residential Hostel Area = 0.40
Ha
d) Parking Area = 0.30 Ha
6. School for 400 45,000 Area per School = 0.70 Ha To be located near a park or
Physically a) School Building Area = 0.20 Ha sport facilities
Challenged
b) Playfield Area = 0.30 Ha
c) Parking Area = 0.20 Ha (NBC,
2005)
7. School for 10 lakh 0.20 Ha To be located near a park
Mentally (MPD, pg 137) and non‐noise polluting
Challenged zone
Other Controls: The schools should preferably face service roads and roads with less traffic intensity.
Source: NBC, 2005 Part 3 and MPD 2021.
[Link]. Higher Education
Table 8.49: Norms for Higher Education Facilities
Population
Sr. No. Category Student Strength Area Requirement
Served per unit
General
1. College 1000 ‐ 1500 1.25 lakh Area per college = 5.00 Ha
a) College Building Area = 1.80 Ha
b) Playfield Area = 2.50 Ha
c) Residential including Hostel Area = 0.30 Ha
d) Parking Area = 0.30 Ha
2. University Campus ‐‐ ‐‐ 10.00 to 60.00 Ha area
a) Residential (if included) = 25% of total land
area
b) Sports and Cultural Activities = 15% of total
land area
c) Parks and landscape including green belt=
15% of total land area. (MPD)
Technical Education
3. Technical Education ITI = 400 10 lakh Area per Technical Education Centre = 4.00 Ha
Centre (A) – To Polytechnic = 500 a) Area for ITI = 1.60 Ha
include 1 Industrial
b) Area for Polytechnic = 2.40 Ha
Training Institute
(ITI) and 1
Polytechnic
4. Technical Education ‐‐ 10 lakh Area per Technical Education Centre = 4.00 Ha
Centre (B) – To a) Area for ITI = 1.40 Ha
include 1 ITI, 1
b) Area for Technical Centre = 2.10 Ha
358 URDPFI Guidelines, 2014. Ministry of Urban Development
Infrastructure Planning
Population
Sr. No. Category Student Strength Area Requirement
Served per unit
Technical Centre and c) Area for Coaching Centre = 0.30 Ha
1 Coaching Centre
Professional Education
5. Engineering College 1500 10 lakh Area per College = 6.00 Ha
6. Medical College ‐‐ 10 Lakh Area per College = 15.00 Ha
Area of site including space for general
hospital
7. Other Professional 250 to 1500 10 Lakh a) Area of site for student strength up to 250
Colleges students = 2.00 Ha
b) Additional area of site for every additional
100 students or part thereof up to total
strength of 1000 students = 0.50 Ha
c) Area of site for strength of college from
1000 to 1500 students = 6.00 Ha
8. Nursing and ‐‐ 10 lakh Institute Plot area = 2000 sqm (subject to
Paramedical Institute Nursing Council of India/ Ministry of Health
(MPD, pg 135) Norms)
9. Veterinary Institute ‐‐ ‐ As per Veterinary Council of India/ Ministry
(MPD, pg 135) Norms (subject to availability of land)
Source: NBC, 2005 MPD 2021.
Threshold population of each of education facilities should not only to depend on the
number of population, but also on the characteristics of the population. Considering
that there is a wide variation in the levels of literacy and increasing rate of entry into
the school, the variations based on the areas are to be respected. Further to the table
above, it is recommended that the threshold population shall be determined based on
the characters of the population, along with the number of population in order to
determine social infrastructure provision at varying regions.
8.4.3. Healthcare Facilities
The size of a hospital depends upon the hospital bed requirement, which in turn is a
function of the size of the population it serves. As per the Indian Public Health
Standards (IPHS), 2012, the calculation of number of beds is based on‐
annual rate of admission as 1 per 50 population
average length of stay in a hospital as 5 days
For example: In India the population size of a district varies from 50,000 to 15,00,000.
For the purpose of convenience the average size of the district is taken as one million
population. Based on the assumptions the number of beds required for 10,00,000
population is :
No. of bed days per year : (10,00,000 x 1/50) x 5 = 1,00,000
No. of beds required with 100% occupancy : 1,00,000 / 365 = 275
No. of beds required with 80% occupancy : (1,00,000 / 365) x 80% = 220
The classification of health care facilities is given in Table 8.50.
URDPFI Guidelines, 2014. Ministry of Urban Development 359
