Institute of Town Planners India organized the 61st National Town and Country Planners Congress with the support of Urban Development Department, Government of Gujarat, Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) Gujarat Regional Chapter and Faculty of Planning and Public Policy, CEPT University, Sponsored by Industrial Extension Bureau, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation Mumbai, and Sun Builders Ahmedabad during 8-10 February, 2013 at Gujarat University Convention and Exhibition Center, Ahmedabad.
The three-day event with theme "Indian Cities in Transition" was organized by (ITPI). The day began with inauguration address session by Chief Guest, Plenary Session on ‘Indian Cities Transition’, Inauguration of Exhibition, and Workshop on Sub-Themes- ‘Inclusive Planning ‘, ‘Urban Mobility’, ‘Smart Cities’ and ‘Corridor Development’, Drafting & Valedictory Session. The seminar ended with field visits and post congress tour. The inauguration was done by Chief Guest Ms. Anandiben Patel, former Minister of Revenue and Urban Development of Government of Gujarat and the vice president of ITPI, India, Mr. Aniyan Mathew. The town planners, who gathered together in Ahmedabad after 32 years, had deliberate discussions on topics like Indian cities in transition, smart cities, urban mobility and inclusive planning.
The event was open for local people to look at work of students and town planners. Agencies like AMC, AUDA, GUDA, SMC, GIFT, SRFDCL and three other institutions, including CEPT University, had displayed their work to showcase how the city is or should be. Many students and faculty members from CEPT University, and more than 400 delegates, participants comprising professional planners, policymakers, administrator, academicians, educationists and experts from the allied disciplines both from India and abroad had participated in the National Congress.
An exhibition and seminar on “Indian Cities in Transition: 2030” was organized during the Congress. It provided an opportunity to all the ITPI Members, Urban Planners, decision and policy makers, bureaucrats, scholars, planning students and other stakeholders to discuss issues and understanding the problems that may help in developing correct policy guidelines and practical solutions to cities in transitions.
