This paper examines India's critical land resource management challenges, where 2.4% of global land supports 17.6% of global population. Analysis of urban planning practices reveals systemic inefficiencies from outdated norms treating land as a commodity rather than a finite resource. The research demonstrates how conventional approaches to functional zoning and standardized allocations lead to significant temporal underutilization of valuable urban land. Through a case study of Sector-40 in Chandigarh, the paper documents precise utilization patterns revealing facilities functioning at less than 25% of their temporal capacity. Findings advocate for a paradigm shift toward multiple-use planning on a 24 × 7 × 365 basis, compact development, and performance-based standards. The study demonstrates that reimagined planning norms could substantially conserve land while enhancing resource efficiency. This research contributes to sustainable urban development discourse in land-stressed nations and offers actionable recommendations for optimizing scarce land resources through temporal efficiency improvements.