Context:

• India’s goal of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047 and achieving net zero by 2070 places cities at the center of its development trajectory.
• Urban areas must evolve not just as centers of habitation but as engines of economic growth, sustainability, and resilience.

Urbanisation and the Developmental Imperative:

• Cities as growth engines: Most job creation and industrial expansion will occur in cities, and they are crucial for harnessing India’s demographic dividend.
• Climate commitments: Cities contribute significantly to GHG emissions and thus must lead in achieving net-zero and low-emission development.
• Vulnerability and resilience: High population densities make cities especially prone to disasters and pandemics, necessitating enhanced urban resilience.

Legacy of Urban Planning in India:

• Historical roots: India’s planning systems originated in the mid-1800s, primarily as a public health response to the plague.
• Current limitations:
  • Focused narrowly on land-use planning rather than economic vision.
  • Master Plans lack integration with long-term economic, climate, and resource goals.
  • Growth projections are based on past population trends, not future job potential or economic expansion.

Need for an Economic Vision in Urban Planning:

• Economic vision first: Urban planning should begin with identifying key economic drivers for the next 20–50 years.
• Integrated framework:
  • Assessments of population growth based on the number of jobs that are likely to be created.
  • This will provide a basis for determining the infrastructure needs and land requirements for different purposes.
  • In the absence of such an exercise, land-use plans lack a credible basis.
• Outcome: Transition from passive population-based planning to dynamic growth-based planning.

Natural Resource and Environmental Planning:

• Resource budgeting: Cities must conduct natural resource budgeting to assess carrying capacity and manage water, land, and energy sustainably.
• Demand management: Emphasis on efficient resource use and limiting urban expansion within ecological boundaries.
• Climate action plans: Every city should adopt a climate action roadmap for low-emission growth and resilience to extreme weather events.

Tackling Urban Pollution and Mobility Challenges:

• Air pollution crisis: Plans must include environmental management, especially for air quality improvement.
• Transport reforms: Development of Comprehensive Mobility Plans (CMPs) promoting -
  • Public transport systems
  • Non-motorised transport (NMT) like cycling and walking
  • Reduced dependence on private vehicles

Regional and Tier-II City Integration:

• Beyond municipal boundaries: Urban economic planning should encompass peri-urban and regional linkages.
• Rural-urban synergy: Recognize economic interdependence between cities and surrounding rural areas.
• Smaller cities’ role: Affordable land and emerging industries make Tier-II and Tier-III cities vital for manufacturing and inclusive urbanisation.

Institutional and Educational Reforms Needed:

• Planning laws: Amend outdated urban planning regulations to integrate economic, environmental, and regional perspectives.
• Urban education: Reform urban planning curricula to build professionals skilled in economic geography, climate adaptation, and sustainability.

Way Forward:

• Reorient urban planning from land-use centric to economy-driven, sustainable frameworks.
• Develop city-specific climate and resource management plans.
• Foster regional planning that includes smaller cities and their linkages.
• Align urban policy with Viksit Bharat 2047 goals and net-zero commitments.
• Invest in capacity building and institutional reforms for adaptive urban governance.

Conclusion:

• India’s current urban planning paradigm—rooted in colonial-era sanitation concerns—must evolve to meet 21st-century challenges.
• The future demands cities that are economically vibrant, resource-efficient, and climate-resilient.
• Transforming cities into “economic growth hubs” is not just a planning reform; it is an essential pillar for realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat.