Haryana

• 04 Jan 2025

Haryana Centre of Excellence

Why in News? 

Recently, the Haryana government has decided to set up a Centre for Urban Excellence (CUE) for regulated urban development. 

 Key Points 

• Nodal Agency and Objective: 
  • The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) serves as the nodal agency for planned development in Haryana. 
  • The CUE aims to partner with a reputed institution to build cutting-edge knowledge, capacities, and implementation models. 
    • It also aims to foster innovation, facilitate stakeholder discourse, and enhance Haryana's urban livability index to international standards within a decade. 
• Urban Growth in Haryana: 
  • Haryana's urbanization level (35%) surpasses the national average (31%) as per the 2011 census. 
  • The state's urban population growth rate (44.25%) is higher than the national rate (32%). 
  • Rapid urbanization has highlighted the need for a policy advocacy body like the CUE to address urban development challenges. 
• Mission and Focus Areas: 
  • The CUE's mission is to strengthen state agencies' capacities for systematic urban innovation and governance. 
  • It will focus on: 
    • Environmental sustainability. 
    • Technology adoption. 
    • Resource conservation. 
    • A people-first approach. 
    • Shaping policies and practices for balanced growth and development. 
    • Activities include research, strategic advisory, technical support, training, and capacity building.