IIT KHARAGPUR

Our Team

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN URBAN PLANNING & DESIGN

About Us

The Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design brings together people, ideas, and innovation to make cities more livable and resilient. Through research, training, and real-world collaboration, it works to transform urban spaces into places that serve both people and the planet.

VISION

To establish a globally recognized Centre that redefines urban planning and design through innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability — creating cities that are intelligent, resilient, and humane.

Mission

To establish a Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design at IIT Kharagpur that advances India’s urban planning and design landscape by fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and capacity building. The Centre will work in close partnership with government bodies, industry, academia, and civil society to create and disseminate cutting-edge knowledge, deliver high-impact urban development projects across states, and build a skilled cadre of planners, administrators, and professionals. Through training, research, and real on-ground engagements, the Centre aims to become an institute of international repute that strengthens urban governance and drives sustainable, future-ready development in cities nationwide.

Advisor's Message

Professor Emeritus Subrata Chattopadhyay

Advisor, CoE-UPD, IIT Kharagpur

In the evolving narrative of India's urban metamorphosis, our cities have moved beyond being mere places to live to become vibrant centres of innovation, economic dynamism, sustainability and social progress. As the nation advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, building resilient, forward-thinking urban landscapes has become a cornerstone of national ambition.
It is amid this momentum that the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design (CoE-UPD) at IIT Kharagpur casts its vision: cities and settlements that are inclusive, resilient and future-ready, rooted in sustainability, equity, innovation and cultural continuity.

Our mission is to foster interdisciplinary research, policy engagement, design excellence, and capacity building that address the complex urban challenges of contemporary India and the Global South. Through collaboration among academia, government, industry, and communities, the Centre aspires to become a leading platform for transformative ideas and impactful urban solutions that shape humane and sustainable environments for generations to come.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Govt. of India envisions CoE-UPD as a catalyst for national urban transformation. This ministerial mandate echoes the Prime Minister’s vision of cities as engines of India’s economic rise and social vitality – citizen-centred, sustainably rooted, and ready to shine on the world stage. Under his sagacious leadership, urbanization has evolved from peril to profound prospect. Emblematic initiatives—the Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, Transit-Oriented Development, and the rise of City Economic Regions (CERs) reflects his vision of integrated urban transformation—fostering seamless connectivity, dynamic economic ecosystems, modernized infrastructure, sustainable development, and balanced regional growth.
The Union Budget 2026–27 anchors this commitment, placing urban planning at the very core of our national path forward. The Budget marks a significant transition from fragmented expansion toward resilient, interconnected, and future-ready urban ecosystems – closely resonating with CoE-UPD’s vision. As India embraces its urban renaissance, the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design symbolizes forward-looking resolve, institutional ingenuity, and sustainable advancement – dedicated to crafting cities that are not merely astute and efficacious, but profoundly equitable, enduring, compassionate, and primed for tomorrow.

Message from Chairperson and Team Leader

Prof. Tarak Nath Mazumder

Chairperson & Team Leader, CoE-UPD, IIT Kharagpur

The establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design (CoE-UPD) at IIT Kharagpur marks an important step towards strengthening interdisciplinary research, policy support, and capacity building in the field of urban planning and sustainable urban development. The Centre has been formed with the vision of addressing the rapidly growing challenges faced by Indian cities, including urban expansion, infrastructure stress, climate resilience, mobility, governance, housing, and regional development.

IIT Kharagpur, with its strong academic foundation and multidisciplinary ecosystem, and proven expertise across key departments provides an ideal environment for such an initiative. Prior to the establishment of CoE UPD, several departments and schools of the Institute were already making significant contributions within their respective domains, including the Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, Ranbir and Chitra Gupta School of Infrastructure Design and Management, Department of Civil Engineering, School of Water Resources, Vinod Gupta School of Management, Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, and the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. However, interdisciplinary efforts were limited to specific cases.
CoE-UPD unites these institutional strengths in a structured collaborative framework. Researchers, professionals, and experts from across departments now work together through interdisciplinary research, practical projects, policy support, and capacity building to tackle urban challenges and create sustainable solutions.
As Team Leader, I firmly believe that the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design represents not merely an institutional initiative, but a collective commitment towards creating more resilient, inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready cities for the nation. By bringing together expertise from diverse disciplines under a unified platform, CoE-UPD aspires to contribute meaningfully to the evolving urban development landscape of India.

Deputy Team Leader's Message

Prof. Haimanti Banerji

Deputy Team Leader, CoE-UPD, IIT Kharagpur

As the Deputy Team Leader of the Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design (CoE-UPD) at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, I take immense pride in the Centre’s growth as a knowledge-driven platform advancing sustainable urban development. CoE-UPD integrates research, technology, policy support, implementation assistance, and capacity building to help Urban Local Bodies, Development Authorities, and public agencies address contemporary challenges with evidence-based, visionary strategies.
CoE-UPD undertakes a wide range of implementation-focused work — from preparation of master, regional and development plans, urban infrastructure assessments, mobility and transport studies, and smart-city interventions to heritage and public-space initiatives, climate-responsive and land-use planning, and policy-oriented research on housing, social inclusion, and regional development — all aimed at strengthening urban governance and improving quality of life.

The Centre partners with leading academic and technical institutions such as BIT Mesra, NIT Patna, NIT Rourkela, IIEST Shibpur, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, and other national and international institutes. These partnerships bring diverse expertise, research-driven methods, and technological innovation to bear on emerging urban issues.
The Centre is also closely associated with several Urban Local Bodies, local governance institutions, and industry partners through handholding and implementation support projects. Through these engagements, CoE-UPD, IIT Kharagpur assists cities in identifying local challenges and developing practical, scalable, and sustainable planning solutions. The Centre is further serving as a knowledge partner for schemes such as PMAY – Urban, PM SVANidhi, Affordable Rental Housing.
Capacity building is a core pillar of the Centre. CoE-UPD delivers targeted programmes, workshops, and professional training for government officials, planners, engineers, consultants, researchers, and urban practitioners. Among its significant initiatives, the Urban Renaissance Tech Programme (URTP) stands out as a distinctive, flagship course. These programmes enhance professional skills and foster knowledge exchange. So far, CoE-UPD, IIT Kharagpur has successfully trained more than 500 participants from diverse institutional and professional backgrounds, helping build a more technically equipped, future-ready urban governance ecosystem for the country.
Towards the nation, CoE-UPD serves as a hands-on partner, implementing scalable and practical solutions for resilient and inclusive urban futures. We look forward to expanding our outreach, deepening our partnerships, and contributing meaningfully towards shaping equitable and future ready urban environments.

Contact Us:

Emeritus Prof. Subrata Chattopadhyay

Advisor, Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design

subratachattopadhyay10@gmail.com, schat@arp.iitkgp.ac.in

+91-3222-283210

Prof. Haimanti Banerji

Deputy Team Leader, Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design

deputyleader@coeupd.iitkgp.ac.in

+91-3222-283228