Meerut, Aug. 9 -- The Integrated Township project in Meerut is set to move forward quickly after chief minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone. The Meerut Development Authority (MEDA) will begin development work on a 50-hectare block in January as part of the project's first phase. MEDA vice-chairman Sanjay Kumar Meena has directed officials to speed up the work. The township will have wide roads and feeder routes connecting nearby villages. The project is part of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) plan, designed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). After reviewing the plan, the chief town and country planner (CTCP) asked for a few changes, which will be made before it is sent for final approval. The layout of the township will be created once the government approves the plan. This township will include plots for housing, shops, schools, hospitals, and health clubs. Homes will be built for all income levels - from high-income to economically weaker sections. Developers will also be offered group housing plots to attract private investment. MEDA plans to carry out the project alone and with private partners. Meerut's urban planning has grown a lot in recent years. The old master plan 2021 covered 500 sq km, while the updated Master Plan 2031 covers 1,043 sq km, divided into 24 zones. Delhi Road and Roorkee Road are also being developed as part of the rapid corridor project to improve transport. Special Development Areas (SDAs) have been planned in Partapur-Bhudbaral (288.79 hectares) and Modipuram (457.06 hectares). Originally, seven TOD zones were planned; this number has now increased to nine. A final approval is expected soon, after which the plan will go to the MEDA board. According to Kamal Thakur, general secretary of the Real Estate Developers Association (REDA), the township will help increase business activity, bring in investment, and attract people from nearby towns to settle in Meerut. As per the TOD plan, areas within 1.5 km of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor and 500 metres around RRTS stations will be part of the development. Partapur and Modipuram will be the key SDAs, and the stations will include Influence Zones (IZs) to encourage business and mixed land use. "The integrated township will serve people from all income groups. We will start developing the first 50-hectare block from January," said vice-chairman Meena....