Mysore/Mysuru: The State Government’s Transferable Development Rights (TDR) scheme offers land owners development rights in place of direct monetary compensation, said M.C. Shashikumar, Additional Director of the Department of Urban and Rural Planning.

He was speaking at an awareness programme on TDR and buffer zones, organised by the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) in city yesterday.

Shashikumar said that the scheme, introduced in 2006, is already being implemented in Bengaluru and Mangaluru and is aimed at facilitating urban expansion without heavy expenditure on land acquisition.

“Under TDR, land can be secured for projects such as road widening and formation of new layouts, while land owners are compensated with development rights that can be used elsewhere or transferred,” he explained.

Describing TDR as a practical tool for planned urban growth, he said it complements master plans and helps cities expand in a structured manner.

Highlighting the planning scenario in Karnataka, he said the State has 332 Urban Local Bodies, of which 176 have approved master plans. While 108 are yet to be identified as planning areas, 41 towns still require preparation of master plans.

Referring to Mysuru, he said the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB) has played a key role in implementing the master plan, enabling systematic development. Proposals have been submitted for widening 100 major roads in the city.

He also suggested that Mysuru should move towards vertical development instead of expanding horizontally through new layouts.

NAREDCO Mysuru Vice – President A.P. Nagesh said a resolution has been passed urging the Government to implement the TDR scheme in Mysuru on the lines of Bengaluru and Mangaluru.

NAREDCO Mysuru President Dr. M.D. Raghavendra Prasad, Chairman V.C. Ravi Kumar, General Secretary P.S. Gagandeep, Treasurer Dr. S.H. Jagadish and Joint Secretary P. Nanjundaswamy were present.