Perhaps nowhere is the confusion more evident than in its structural composition. The meticulously planned spaces, carefully executed architecture and myriad citizen-oriented schemes that characterised the Vadodara of the Gaekwadi era have been undone by lack of foresight and commitment on the part of the authorities and apathy and neglect on the part of the populace. Ancient monuments have been forgotten; newer structures show little respect for their milieu.

Infrastructural progress has failed to keep pace with random construction and haphazard development; the city has thus grown in discrete bits connected only by stretches of concrete, losing its heart -- or the city centre -- in the process.

Explains leading architect Palamadai Rajagopalan of Palamadai and Associates, ``The focus has shifted in the city over the years. The beginning can be traced to the Laxmi Vilas Palace, which was deliberately constructed away from the Old City. Subsequently, however, the development grew out of hand, robbing the city of its cultural focus and its identity.''

According to eminent city-based architect Suryakant Patel, no city can exist after amputating its historical roots. ``History links the city's past and future. Newer cities like Chandigarh may have planned perfectly, but they lack the cultural continuum that takes at least 100 years to develop'', he says.

On the other hand, he adds, ``cities like Vadodara, though rich in history, have no architectural style reflecting that history. The aesthetic continuum manifest in the brick buildings with sloping roofs, balconies and woodwork of Sayajirao's era was broken by the `modern' architectural trends. New materials were used, less respect was accorded to the surrounding structures.''

Renowned conservationist and architect Karan Grover agrees, ``We have not taken any clues from older structures, which, in all their simplicity, were practically designed and made optimum use of space. The pols and wadas, for instance, provided ample private space while fostering the community spirit.''

``Every architect and every planner did things their own way without any regulation from a central authority'', says Patel, a statement with which Rajagopalan and Grover agree. Points out Rajagopalan, ``There is a total dichotomy between planning of infrastructure and of construction. Our town-planning schemes are not integrated.

``Neither the Vadodara Municipal Corporation nor the Vadodara Urban Development Authority have envisaged the city 20 years from now. Planning has been limited to short-term changes and measures have been corrective rather than preventive.''

Grover adds, ``Neither the VMC nor the VUDA has solicited professional opinion on planning. The VMC has norms, but these are blatantly violated and not punished. The VMC by-laws, in themselves, are negative, since they list what should not be done, rather than the opposite.''

While Patel envisages a twin city in Vasad to alleviate the pressure on Vadodara ``which could be made into a service centre'', Rajagopalan believes the city's ``core'' needs to be rediscovered for a successful recreation of a cultural identity.

``I look at the 800 acres of palace land as a potential centre. Also, investments should be made in public buildings. The VMC needs to identify at least four model projects and plan and execute them perfectly to win back the confidence of the people and the industry. But, most importantly, the administration needs to envision the city in the next millennium and sell this vision to both the corporates and the masses''.

VMC's Town Planning Officer Prakash Pethye, however, feels that ``convenient approaches and links such as overbridges rather than new public structures'' can help pull the city together.

About the VMC's plan for the future, Pethye says, ``We have charted out a development plan for the next decade. We have also identified 68 schemes for residential areas. But these are on-going programmes, which will be perfected only over a period of time''.

The VUDA, meanwhile, says its plans will materialise around 2011. Says chairman K K Shah, ``Development around the existing city, a new transportation system to be run by the Baroda Metropolitan Authority and water facilities for the eastern part of the city are the highlights of our plans''.

Besides, he adds, a satellite town for more than 1.5 lakh people and two `Transport Nagars' were also on the anvil.