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Urban Planner
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Overview

Urban planners develop and organize urban places to ensure they are practical, sustainable, and visually beautiful. An urban planner is a professional who creates land use plans and programs to assist build communities, handle population expansion, and rebuild physical infrastructure. They collaborate closely with governmental authorities, developers, and the community to find the most effective use of land and resources. Urban planners are becoming increasingly important in India as cities grow and the demand for sustainable development rises. They work on a variety of projects, including transit networks, public parks, housing developments, and commercial districts. Given India's fast urbanization and the government's emphasis on smart city programs, there is an increasing demand for experienced urban planners. For a career as an urban planner, you normally require a degree in urban planning or a related discipline like geography, architecture, or civil engineering. Many Indian institutions offer undergraduate and postgraduate studies in urban planning. These programs address numerous areas of urban development, such as environmental planning, transportation, land use, and urban design. Some of the best colleges offering urban planning degrees in India are the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi and CEPT University in Ahmedabad, among others. The salary for urban planners varies according to experience, degree, and location. A career in urban planning is not only financially lucrative, but also allows you to have a direct effect on the growth and improvement of urban settings. Those interested in this area should take relevant courses and get degrees to gain the essential skills and expertise.
Famous Personalities

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Charles Correa (Architect and Urban Planner)

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Hafeez Contractor (Architect and Urban Planner)

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Le Corbusier (Architect and Urban Planner designed Chandigarh)

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B.V. Doshi (Architect and Urban Planner)

Skills

Technical Skills
Land Use Planning
Zoning Laws
Transportation Planning
GIS Software
CAD Software
Urban Planning Software
Environmental Impact Assessment
Sustainability Principles
Statistical Analysis
Demographic Analysis
Soft Skills
Public Speaking
Report Writing
Stakeholder Engagement
Budgeting
Scheduling
Resource Management
Roles and Responsibilities

Plan Development

Develop comprehensive plans for land use in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Research

Conduct research to understand the current conditions and future growth trends of an area.

Public Presentation

Present planning proposals to the public and government officials.

Collaboration

Collaborate with stakeholders, including government officials, architects, engineers, and developers.

Environmental Impact Analysis

Assess the environmental impact of planning decisions.

Policy Recommendation

Recommend policies, plans, and programs for land use.

Project Management

Oversee planning projects, managing budget, schedule, and resources.

GIS Mapping

Use Geographic Information System (GIS) software for spatial analysis and visualization.

Data Analysis

Analyze data related to population, economy, housing, and transportation.

Review

Review site plans submitted by developers.

Report Writing

Prepare reports and presentations on planning studies and projects.

Expected Earnings

Entry Level
3,00,000 - ₹5,00,000 /year

Mid Level
6,00,000 - ₹10,00,000 /year

Senior Level
11,00,000 - ₹20,00,000 /year

Top Executive
20,00,000 +/year

Work Context

Environment: Office setting, with field visits to sites and public meetings.

Hours: Standard office hours, with occasional overtime for project deadlines.

Interaction: Regular interaction with government officials, architects, engineers, and the public.

Travel: Regular local travel for site visits and occasional outstation travel for projects.

Remote Work: Limited opportunities for remote work.

Job Opportunities: Opportunities in government agencies, real estate companies, architectural firms, and consulting firms.

Learning Curve: Continuous learning to keep up with evolving urban trends and regulatory changes.

Strengths

Positive impact on communities


Variety of work


Opportunities for creativity


Interdisciplinary nature of work


High job satisfaction

Possible Constraints

High pressure


Potential for long hours


Dealing with bureaucracy


Slow pace of projects


Public criticism

Ideal Progression Path

Junior Urban Planner

Urban Planner

Senior Urban Planner

Planning Manager

Director of Planning

Chief Planning Officer

Education Path

Path 1
1.
12th

12th

Science/Maths/Commerce/Arts

2.
UG

UG

B.Plan

3.
PG

PG

M.Plan

Path 2
1.
12th

12th

Science/Maths/Commerce/Arts

2.
UG

UG

B.Arch

3.
PG

PG

M.Arch

Path 3
1.
12th

12th

Science/Maths/Commerce/Arts

2.
UG

UG

B.Tech in Civil Engineering

3.
PG

PG

M.Tech in Urban Planning

Top Exams

National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA)
Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Mains Paper 2
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
CEPT (Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology) Entrance Exam
Top Colleges

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School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi,
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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
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National Institute of Technology (NIT), Bhopal
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CEPT University, Ahmedabad
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Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad
Top Companies

Jacobs
AECOM
RSP Architects Planners & Engineers
Stantec
Atkins
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