The Department of Physical Planning was created in the year 1990 by drawing experienced faculty from within the School and later expanded through appointment of additional faculty members. The curriculum was especially designed for the four year (8 semester) full time undergraduate planning programme to train and educate students in the discipline of planning. The course content is designed in such a manner as to impart knowledge to the students not only about planning but also other disciplines related to planning, such as architecture, engineering, social sciences, management, communication skills and computer applications. Apart from the the oratical inputs, students are also attuned to the real life situations through carefully designed studio programmes. The students also undergo practical training in planning offices during their summer vacations. This training forms a part of the curriculum.

The Department takes special care to invite eminent people from the fields of planning and allied disciplines to motivate the students to achieve excellence in their work and inculcate in them an enthusiasm for professional skills. In addition, the Department organises seminars and workshops on planning themes and issues to promote dialogue and exchange of ideas amongst the eminent professionals and generate literature for teaching purposes in the form of proceedings and conclusions.

The faculty of the Department is also involved in live projects through institutional consultancy projects. The faculty thus experience expertise in the real life situations and issues concerned with human settlements. This experience is put to academic use for improving the standard of education in the department and the School. The teaching in the Department emphasizes the use of audio-visual and computer related equipments in the conduct of lectures and the studio programmes.