The Urban Development Ministry today said that satellite images of 152 towns have been procured by Survey of India under the National Urban Information System, NUIS scheme. In order to facilitate the preparation of ‘Master Plan’ of cities, the Ministry of Urban Development had launched the NUIS Scheme in March 2006. Under the scheme the local bodies of 152 towns and cities in the country are to get detailed maps provided by satellites for making plans in the cities. Such a comprehensive information infrastructure with a spatial database and the Geographic Information System can be made available to all departments in states so that plan formulation is done in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Interacting with Media persons, Dr. Sudhir Krishna, Secretary of the Urban Development Ministry said the city master plan is a fundamental planning document which may provide solutions to many city problems. He said that a Geographical Information Database has been generated for 142 towns under the scheme.