UP PCS Mains-2024

Approach Briefly describe the State Capital Region (SCR). Examine the relevance and significance of SCR. Conclude with SDG Target 11.

Introduction

The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to create a State Capital Region (SCR) along the lines of the National Capital Region (NCR), connecting Lucknow and the neighbouring districts of central Uttar Pradesh, with the aim of enhancing the potential of the State capital for coordinated and balanced development.

Lucknow-SCR will cover the seven adjoining districts of Hardoi, Sitapur, Raebareli, Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Unnao and Barabanki.

Body

Relevance of the State Capital Region:

• The capital, Lucknow, is equipped with state-of-the-art urban facilities. People from different cities want to come here and make it their permanent residence.
• Population pressure is also increasing in the surrounding districts, while complaints of unplanned development are being received. The formation of SCR will be useful from the point of view of coordinated development.
• In the recent Global Investors’ Summit (GIS), of the total investment proposals worth ₹33.50 lakh crore received by Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow received 6.79% of the proposals, while the other seven districts together managed only 3.77%, highlighting the investors’ district-centric interest and the widening gap between the State capital and its adjoining districts.
• Lucknow, with an area of 2,528 sq. km, has a population of 45,89,838 according to the 2011 Census, while adjoining Barabanki, spread over 4,402 sq. km, has a population of 32,60,699.
• Significance of State Capital Region (SCR):
• It is aimed at negating the imbalanced growth and rapid population influx in the urban centres of Lucknow and Kanpur Nagar in central Uttar Pradesh, despite these two cities being smaller in area compared to many neighbouring districts.
• It will be useful from the point of view of coordinated development of the region.
• SCR will be developed keeping in mind the future requirements related to urban planning.
• It will ensure the planned development of some of the cities in the wake of increasing population pressure.
• The population is increasing in neighbouring districts as well and there are complaints of unplanned development which should be corrected.
• A large number of industrial areas will be developed in the vicinity of the two cities (Lucknow and Kanpur), which will generate jobs for the youth.
• The development of Lucknow-SCR will act as a counter-magnet area, similar to Delhi-NCR and attract private investment and provide a multiplier effect to the hinterland.
• The SCR will decongest Lucknow by providing lucrative job and self-employment opportunities in the constituent districts, arresting the migration of youth to big cities in search of jobs.
• The SCR districts will be provided with better transport, logistics and infrastructure facilities. A large number of districts in Uttar Pradesh are already connected with expressways and air routes, which will come in handy for leveraging the local agricultural and traditional industries.

Conclusion

At the Uttar Pradesh Regional Planning Conclave-2023, suggestions were given to create six development regions in the State — Agra, Meerut, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and Jhansi, apart from the SCR — so that the adjoining districts also benefit from these fast-developing centres.

The SCR is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals Target 11 which talks about making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.