Gurugram development body to use GIS to keep track of infrastructure, squatters

GURUGRAM: The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) will start using its geographic information system (GIS) to track the infrastructural developments in the city. The visual records procured through satellite images of the National Remote Sensing Centre will also be used to monitor encroachments and illegal constructions, officials have said.

According to a senior GMDA official working on the project, the need for the project arose from the rampant land encroachments in the city. The project was recently approved by the Haryana chief minister.

“Once we have the data from the system, we will prepare a matrix depicting the urbanisation patterns such as the spread of development, its pace and direction,” he told TOI. “This matrix will be shared with the government departments to understand the development and encroachments in the city so that they can formulate conducive policies for managing the resources allocation.”

Giving an example, the official said they can use the system to identify the water bodies which have gone missing in the recent past. “We can alert the authorities concerned about any building in this area that would be susceptible to flooding in case of heavy rainfall,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GMDA is also working on the procurement of drones for its multiple GIS projects. As a part of another GIS project, the development authority will be setting up weather stations across Gurgaon and Faridabad.

had earlier reported that the GMDA will be setting up a network of 200-250 weather stations across the city and Faridabad. The project, under which one station will be set up for every 9 square km, has been approved by the chief minister, officials said. “An extensive network of weather stations will be set up soon to keep accurate records of temperature, wind speed and rainfall through the day,” another official said.