Gandhinagar's Udwada’s development plan to be ready soon

Here is good news for the Parsi community on the occasion of Navroze, the Parsi New Year. The development plan of Udwada town, which is home to the most sacred fire temple of Parsis, is expected to be finalised in the next few months.
The plan is being prepared with a view to protect the fire temple and other sites in the area from the effects of haphazard development. “The work to prepare the development plan of Udwada is progressing well. We expect to publish a draft (for inviting objections and suggestions from citizens) in the next couple of months,” said a senior official in the town planning & valuation department, Gandhinagar.
The official said the development plan was being prepared by Valsad town planning department. The next step would be to come out with the final plan.
Earlier this year, the state government had formed the Udwada Area Development Authority (UADA) to monitor development in the town. This was after Parsis complained to chief minister Narendra Modi that existence and sanctity of their most sacred fire temple, the Iranshah, was jeopardised due to unplanned development.
An urban development department official also said the development plan for Udwada was being prepared and would be published soon.
Asked if any special care was being taken while preparing the plan, theofficial said, “The plan is being prepared in a manner that religious sanctity of Udwada is maintained, and the historic temple and other sites are protected from unplanned development and pollution. After all, this was the purpose of forming the UADA.”
Meanwhile, Parsis have welcomed the measures initiated to protect the sacred town. “The project is on the right track, and we appreciate the response of the government. The plan should be implemented at the earliest to control development and ensure that the sacred Iranshah fire is protected,” said Behram Mehta, a prominent Parsi community member.

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