Model towns were created in India in the 1950s with the object of

In the 1950s, the 'Model Towns' scheme was primarily initiated to address the massive housing crisis caused by the Partition of India in 1947. Following independence, millions of refugees migrated from West Punjab and East Bengal, leading to a 90 percent population increase in cities like Delhi by 1951. Model Town in North Delhi was one of the first planned colonies developed to resettle these displaced populations. These towns were designed as examples of modern urban planning, featuring grid patterns, green spaces, and essential urban facilities to provide a structured alternative to the overcrowded old city centers [2]. The state used these developments to forge new concepts of urban spatial regulation and citizenship in the post-colonial era. While they provided housing, their specific historical objective was the rehabilitation of refugees through planned residential environments.

Sources

1. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 14: Settlements > Morphology of Indian Cities > p. 33