The Planning implications of industrial areas in Colombo metropolitan region

Abstract

This study deals with some planning implications of the industrial areas in the Colombo Metropolitan Region. The main objective of Chapter 1 is to define the problem of the study. It was obvious that 83% of the total industrial establishments of the country are located in CMR. However the existing infrastructure for industrial use are not sufficient and over utilized in this region. On the other hand the lack of planning in industrial development there has been an adverse impact on human settlement, which eventually creates social, economic, physical, environmental and institutional problems in the region. In order to analyse these planning implications, the study was confined to Colombo Metropolitan Region as defined by Colombo Metropolitan Regional Structure Plan (CMRSP) by UDA. The methodology of the overall study was also included in this chapter as sequential process. Synopsis The review of the conceptual framework of industrial location made it easier to understand why industries locate where they do. A different choice of location would involve a different mix of costs as well as a different access to the market. So far as there is a spatial pattern to these costs and revenues, a clustering of manufacturing plants may rise up on the economic land space. However, Chapter 2 therefore describes how one sorts out, weighs, places, their advantages and disadvantages and then decide on an appropriate location. Chapter 3 is devoted to macro level analyses of the growth, development, spatial distribution pattern of the industrial areas in Sri Lanka. However, the industry has been looked upon as one of the key areas in the economy of the country, because of the recognition of this sector as a great potential to promote growth and productivity of the country. The importance of regional industrialization with an integrated approach to determining industrial location is also discussed in Chapter 3. The above analysis has further justified the high concentration of industries in CMR. Therefore Chapter 4 focuses attention on the analyses of the growth, spatial distribution pattern and the planning implications of Colombo Metropolitan Region.