Assessment of Urban Expansion along Peripheral Roads: A Case Study of Rawalpindi

Abstract

Rawalpindi Master Plan (1996-2016) divided Rawalpindi Municipality into various categories of urban and non-urban area. Rawalpindi beyond cantonment limits, the study area, spreads over nearly 250 square kilometers of urban land. Uncontrolled expansion and haphazard growth is continuously increasing along its existing road network which is wiping out its green and bared land. The study explores pattern and extent of spatial growth, future growth potential and major reasons behind uncontrolled expansion in the study area. In this study population data for the year 1998, 2009 and 2017 and high resolution satellite imageries of the years 2009 and 2019 were used in GIS analysis. The population densities have spread as bow shaped waves originating from the central high density area along Adyala and Chakri road. In the last 20 years, population density of Rawalpindi has increased from 2055 to 3058 persons per square kilometers and growth trend shifted towards outward urban areas. The population has been increasing rapidly in the settlements closer to peripheral roads. The process of urban expansion increase in settlement has shifted from static to dynamic in spatial context. From 1998 to 2009, increase in built up area was 1 square kilometer per year. Subsequently to 2019, increase in built up area has expanded by 2 square kilometer per year. The growth pattern of urban expansion after 2009 is more scattered than that of prior to 2009. Land use / Land cover change detection 2009-2019 of Landast imageries having same resolution (30 x 30 m) shows the following land use classes: Agricultural and forest land spread over more than half of land, built up area covers more than 10 per cent of the study area, barren land spread over one third of the study area while remaining land falls in other category. Temporal image analysis shows that vegetation experience highest decreased of 14 per cent while 20 square kilometers built up area has increased in the study area. Nearly 60 percent land of study area carries 'high' future growth potential for urban expansion. Major reasons to uncontrolled expansion in the study area are: Absence of integrated development plan, Poor plan implementation, Poor development control by RDA, Informal land subdivision, Duality of control and functions. Land management through Master Plan, implementation of urban policies, preservation of forests and smooth formulation of zoning and building bye laws are recommended options to control ongoing haphazard expansion in the study area.