The book provides a "comprehensivemethodology" toward preparation of Local AreaPlans (LAPs) in the Indian context. The planningapproach in LAP is opposed to the conventionalmaster planning method. The conventional top-to-bottom approach followed in planning isunrealistic in nature as it does not respond to theground realities of spatial, economic, sociocultural, environmental and other layers ofplanning. As a result the city sees social andphysical pathologies of great magnitudes.Urban issues like lack of housing for poor, lack ofgender sensitivity in planning, lopsided focuseson development perspectives and visions, environmental hazards, drastic demographicshifts, rise in illegal activities and so on are onlyfew of the many problems which arise out of amaster planning methodology which is preparedin isolation. On the other hand, a Local Area Plannot only responds to the context but also involves the local people in the planning process, including its timely and lawful implementationand execution.Key Features- The LAP aims to achieve a holistic vision forthe city keeping the focus on the "people" andnot the city as a space.- The new bottom-to-top approach in planningholistically delves into the intangible aspectsof a human settlement which have rarely beenused in spatial planning so far.- The book explains such techniques, tools andmethodologies that can be used forquantifying the social components of a humansettlement which are most important inspatial planning and often not responded to inmaster plans or regional plans.