Afghan planners to follow Raipur model to develop new Kabul city

The two upcoming towns in Chhattisgarh capital would become a model for planning and developing the new Kabul city in Afghanistan.

A five member delegation from the Dehsabz – Barikab City Development Authority, Kabul, recently visited Chhattisgarh capital. They went to the Kamal Vihar and Naya Raipur—the town modern towns that the state government agencies had been developing with world-class infrastructure.

The Dehsabz – Barikab City Development Authority (DCDA) was established in early 2007 as an executive unit of the Independent Board of Kabul New City Development under the presidential decree. With cooperation from the Government of Japan and French Private sector, the board had prepared a master plan for the city in the context of Greater Kabul.

The master plan and its implementation strategy for 2025 were endorsed by the Afghan Cabinet in early 2009. Soon, as a top priority, the initiative turned into one of the biggest commercially viable national development project of the country, expected to be led by the private sector.

To speed up the project, the board officials had decided to visit a few selected towns for study, designing plan accordingly and implementing it in their country. They had shortlisted Noida, Greater Noida and Naya Raipur—the proposed new administrative capital of Chhattisgarh.

“The Afghan officials showed interest in land acquisition process besides studying how best town like Kamal Vihar and Naya Raipur could be developed with people’s participation,” a state government spokesperson said. The officials interacted with the state officials and discussed on the wide range of issues related to both the projects.

The state officials said the Afghan team was impressed with the amenities like water, electricity and drain facilities provided on each plot in the Kamal Vihar project. The officials hinted that they would take a leaf out of Raipur projects for developing new Kabul city.