Land use study

Developed area: Residential and mixed residential areas form about 27% of the total developed area while commercial area has a share of 4%. Public and semi-public, institutional and recreational land uses occupy about 7% of the developed area while industries cover only around 1% of the area. The agricultural area covers around 13% of the total undeveloped city area. Residential plots lying vacant constitute nearly 26% excluding open spaces in the unconstructed layout areas, and area under parks and playgrounds account for only about 1% of the developed area. In the entire city both railways and roadways occupied around 20% of the VMC developed area. Vijayawada railway junction is a major one and is a special feature, so also the irrigation canals form Prakasam barrage flowing through the city. The railway junction and the irrigation canals traversing the city are not normal features of an urban area.

Undeveloped area: The vacant land or “undeveloped area” of 696.83 ha, only covering 11% is “developable” for urban uses in future. As agriculture is still the dominant activity which may also turn to built-use in future as it has decreased significantly in recent years. In the villages nearby added to the city, Payakapuram, Bhavanipuram, and Ajit Singh Nagar that are in the initial stages of development. The city fringe area lying in Gunadala covers mainly agricultural lands with lowkey development activities.

The revenue wards are relevant for land records and property transactions, most of the data pertaining to all services, facilities and amenities are available only by electoral wards. The entire city is divided into 77 electoral wards on the basis of uniform population size for election purpose. Obviously, more often, one revenue ward covers more than one electoral ward. Though culling out all data from electoral wards, and consolidating them by revenue wards is fairly a cumbersome process, it has been relatively easier through the application of computer processed technique. The GIS tool with data attached to each parcel of land through universal census of data collection has rendered the data thus amalgamated dependable. The entire spatial and non-spatial data have thus been processed and compiled revenue ward wise. The disposition of electoral wards and revenue wards are shown in the city map.

Land use study

The overall growth patterns require to be analyzed to know the issues and impacts and to understand so as to arrive at a better and more sustainable approach for future projections and land-use planning. Based on the analysis only the land cover change pattern so that can be projected to show how the land cover is going to change and affect the future land-use