Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA): History, Role & ADA to PDA Transformation

The Prayagraj Development Authority plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of this popular city, formerly known as Allahabad. It was established in 1974 under the ‘Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.’ The city is situated near the ‘Triveni Sangam’—the confluence point where three rivers: the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati—merge. Spanning a vast area of ​​365 square kilometers, the city is home to a population exceeding 1.5 million, with a population density of 4,200 persons per square kilometer.

The PDA was previously known as the ADA (Allahabad Development Authority). Since its inception, the PDA has made continuous efforts to integrate this historic city—which played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle—into the mainstream of modernization. The primary objective of the PDA is to ensure the city’s progress, enabling it to meet the demands of contemporary living while simultaneously preserving its unique identity as a city. The fundamental goal behind the establishment of the PDA—and the metropolitan infrastructure it has developed—is to provide a higher standard of living to all citizens within its jurisdiction, regardless of their socio-economic status or class.

Guided by a well-conceived and meticulously planned ‘Master Plan,’ the PDA works in close collaboration with various government agencies. Its aim is to integrate every facet of urban life—ranging from parks and roadways to public utilities and housing—into the developmental process. The PDA remains fully committed to developing Prayagraj into a well-planned, livable, and sustainable city for generations to come.

Objectives of PDA

The Prayagraj Development Authority is committed to ensuring that the city’s development proceeds along a well-planned trajectory. To achieve this, the PDA engages in the following activities:

• Acquisition and management of land to promote development activities.
• Provision of space for commercial and residential development to accommodate the ever-growing urban population.
• Providing assistance to various agencies to ensure that urban development is sustainable and seamless.
• Construction of basic infrastructure—such as roads, water supply systems, and sewage disposal facilities—to fulfill the fundamental needs of the residents.
• Maintenance and improvement of public amenities for the benefit of all, within a city equipped with high-quality infrastructure.

Key Facts
Year of establishment	1974
Authority	Prayagraj City
Area	365 square kilometres
Master Plan 2021 allocation for residential area	41.67%

Master plan and Zonal Plan

In accordance with Section 8 of the ‘Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973,’ the PDA prepares a ‘Master Plan’ for the city. This Master Plan provides direction for the city’s development, ensuring that everything—ranging from public amenities to housing—is comprehensively outlined and can be implemented through a systematic approach. Under Section 9 of this Act, it is also mandatory to formulate ‘Zonal Plans’ for specific areas, such as:

Zonal Plan Zone B4

Zonal Plan Zone B4-1

Zonal Plan Zone B4-2

Zonal Plan Zone B4-3

Zonal Plan Zone B4-4

Zonal Plan (Civil Lines) B-4

These plans provide every zone of the city with the opportunity to develop in a systematic manner. This Master Plan, in conjunction with Zonal Plans, delineates land usage across all zones of the city. They also designate specific zones for residential areas, commercial districts, industrial sectors, as well as recreational facilities. The effective management of land use ensures balanced development that caters to both current requirements and the needs of the immediate future.

Public participation constitutes a crucial aspect in the drafting of this Master Plan. The PDA welcomes various suggestions and concerns received from the public regarding land use. Based on these very suggestions, the Government of Uttar Pradesh grants final approval to these plans. This ensures that the needs and expectations of the people are reflected in the city’s future developmental endeavors.

Under Section 13, this Act permits an adjustment process, which is adopted whenever a change is required in the land use designated for a specific property. The government has formulated new provisions within the framework of the ‘Urban Planning and Development (Change of Land Use Fee)’ regulations—the draft of which was prepared in 2014. These provisions empower the PDA to facilitate changes in land use when necessary; however, such changes are executed strictly within permissible limits to ensure alignment with the city’s long-term objectives.

Thus, the Master Plan serves as an indispensable instrument, ensuring that the development of Prayagraj proceeds in an organic and sustainable manner, thereby fulfilling the needs of a growing population while keeping the future firmly in view.

Prayagraj Development Authority Urban Expansion Plan

The Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) has formulated one of the most ambitious urban expansion schemes, which is primarily detailed in the ‘Prayagraj Master Plan 2031’. This plan has been designed with the objective of overseeing the city’s rapid expansion, enhancing its infrastructure, and legally integrating its rapidly developing peripheral areas into the city limits.

The key aspects of the PDA’s urban expansion plan are as follows:

1. Geographical and Jurisdictional Expansion

Boundary Expansion (Master Plan 2031): The approved Master Plan 2031 has significantly expanded the planning area designated for the city. As part of the PDA’s jurisdiction, the city’s territorial limits have been increased from 300 square kilometers to 398 square kilometers. Following this expansion, 639 villages within the district now fall under the city’s planning and municipal boundaries.

Recently Proposed Expansion: Recently, a proposal was put forward by the Government of India to further extend the limits of urbanization to 263 square kilometers (representing the total urban area) and to incorporate approximately 200 additional villages into the PDA’s jurisdiction. Consequently, the number of villages falling under the PDA’s purview would rise to 839, and the total area encompassed by the PDA’s boundaries would expand to approximately 1,278 square kilometers.

These five new villages are situated within the Sadar and Phulpur tehsils. Additionally, the Karchhana and Soraon tehsils (primarily Soraon) are also included in this expansion. As a result of this extension, the PDA’s coverage area has expanded to align with the extent of the Ganga Expressway.

2. Changes in Land Use and Commercialisation

Expansion of Commercial Corridors: Under Master Plan 2031, the scope of land designated for commercial use in Allahabad (Prayagraj) is expected to expand. This Master Plan has significantly enlarged the areas earmarked for commercial activities, now incorporating several new localities. The plan permits the commercial use of properties situated along 42 of the city’s major roads; in contrast, the previous Master Plan 2021 included only 29 such roads.

Prominent among these are Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Sardar Patel Marg, Katju Marg, Tashkent Marg, and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg; the list also includes roads located in suburban areas such as Naini, Jhusi, Phaphamau, and Rajrooppur.

Standards for Commercial Buildings: Two-story buildings constructed within zones designated as ‘Market Streets’ (extending up to 15 meters from the roadside) can now be converted for commercial use, subject to the payment of requisite compounding fees and the receipt of necessary approvals.

Highway Amenity Zones: A new land-use category, designated as ‘Highway Amenity Zones,’ has been proposed. These zones are to be established on both sides of the Ring Road and the Bypass Road (Handia-Kokhraj Bypass).

Under this provision, the construction of facilities such as guest houses, *baraat ghars* (marriage halls), restaurants, *dhabas*, and petrol pumps will be permitted within a 500-meter radius of these highways.

Regularisation of Existing Structures: This plan provides a mechanism to legally regularise the commercial use of residential buildings situated along major roads. This process requires the payment of a prescribed ‘mitigation fee,’ a measure expected to boost revenue for both the PDA (Prayagraj Development Authority) and the Municipal Corporation.

3. Environmental and Infrastructure Development Focus

Water Management and Sustainability: This plan implements strict guidelines for water conservation.

Rainwater harvesting is now mandatory for every new construction project with a total built-up area exceeding 100 square meters—whether residential or commercial (office space).

Water bodies will be developed across an area exceeding 100 acres, surrounded by green zones; additionally, existing water sources will be integrated with water harvesting and rainwater storage systems.

For construction projects covering an area of ​​more than 20 acres, it is mandatory to reserve 5% of the site for the development of ‘recharge ponds.’

Residential Development: This Master Plan will result in a 2.09 percent increase in residential land use.

Infrastructure Development: Overall, the objective of this expansion is to create new infrastructure for the city and its newly annexed areas, thereby generating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

From a practical standpoint, it is evident that this initiative by the Prayagraj Development Authority is a comprehensive and all-encompassing endeavor. Its goal is to establish the city as a well-organized, economically viable, and sustainable urban center by legally demarcating its boundaries and rationalizing land use.

E-Auction Process

ADA organizes online auctions for the auction of commercial, residential industrial and residential plots. This is a procedure which guarantees the transparency of land asset allotment and is a hallmark of fair practices. In general this is how the process operates:

• Bidders who are interested in bidding have to sign up on the AADA’s website
• Property Selection: Once logged in, users are able to browse the available homes in Allahabad available for auction
• Bidding: Registered users are able to place bids during the auction time of their plots being auctioned off via electronic auction. ADA determines the price base for each plot
• Winner Selection The plots are distributed to the bidder with the highest amount at the conclusion of the auction period with confirmation and final approval by ADA

How To Apply for PDA E-Auction 

Applying for the Prayagraj Development Authority’s e-auction process is not difficult. To register yourself for the e-auction process, please follow the instructions outlined in the steps below:

1. Visit www.eauction.pdaprayagraj.org.in/login.aspx.
2. Simply click on ‘Register’.
3. Fill out the registration form and provide all the required information.
4. After filling in all the fields, be sure to check the ‘Declaration’ box to confirm that you have read and agree to all the terms and conditions.
5. Click on the ‘Submit’ button.

If your registration is completed successfully, ADAPYJ will send you an SMS containing your User ID and Password. Please keep these credentials safe and do not share them with anyone else.

Online Complaint

ADA has created an Online Complaint system that allows citizens to stay up-to-date with public services and resolve complaints of citizens in a timely manner. Citizens can:

1. Lodge complaints relating to non-authorized construction or water supply disputes, property disputes and other municipal issues on the ADA website.
2. Find registered complaints in real-time to ensure Transparency and speedy resolution
3. Receive quick solutions to complaints when they are submitted to the appropriate department, and update the status of complaints regularly.

Below are some steps you can take to submit complaints online

Go to http://pdaprayagraj.org.in/

Land Auctions in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Now Open to Buyers Across India & Abroad

The Prayagraj Development Authority has launched its first online auction system, enabling builders and investors from across India and around the world to participate in auctions without having to visit the Authority’s office.

Previously, the Authority lacked a mechanism for online auctions, requiring buyers and developers to visit the office in person to obtain further information and participate. However, with this new system, buyers and developers can register via the pdaprayagraj.org portal and complete all necessary formalities online.

Under the new procedure, interested buyers may register online until June 22; furthermore, they have the option to visit the site prior to participating in the auction. This new online registration system is expected to significantly reduce paperwork and eliminate delays typically associated with traditional auction methods.

Conclusion to Prayagraj or Allahabad Development Authority

Residential plots for sale in Allahabad (Prayagraj) remain to draw attention thanks to plans for development projects. The ADA has been transformed into known as the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) that plays a significant part in advancing the city. Development authority focuses on and oversees the development of modern housing projects and transparent land allocations via e-auctions so that the life the quality of life for all residents could be enhanced. PDA is determined to transform Prayagraj into a well-planned, liveable city within the context of sustainable growth and a focus on citizen-centric services such as online complaints. Find the most up-to-date plans of plots, and be part of the development story of Prayagraj.

Frequently Asked Questions