Understanding the importance of urban planning!
Urban planning is a multidisciplinary field that guides and directs the development and design of land, infrastructure, and services in cities and regions. Its goals include ensuring economic development, improving residents' quality of life, and managing resources sustainably. This process involves several components, including land use, transportation, housing, public spaces, and environmental considerations.
Why is it needed?
Urban planning is important for developing sustainable and resilient cities for the future. It contributes to population management, environmental issues, and social equity. Through directing land use, transportation, and infrastructure, urban planning supports environmental sustainability by managing resources responsibly to meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, economic growth by creating opportunities for businesses to thrive, and improved quality of life by enhancing living conditions, including access to jobs, education, healthcare, and recreation.
How does India do it?
India's rapid urbanisation and population growth necessitate urban planning to manage infrastructure, improve quality of life, and ensure sustainable development. Without it, challenges like traffic congestion, inadequate sanitation, and housing shortages become increasingly difficult to address.
A few examples of urban planning in India are:
Chandigarh, the first planned city in India, was created soon after India's independence in 1947. Le Corbusier, a celebrated Swiss-French architect, conceived of this groundbreaking endeavour, and the city's layout revolves around well-organised sectors, each serving as a self-sustaining microcosm with a balanced mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.
Gujarat's capital, Gandhinagar, was built in the 1960s to take Ahmedabad's place as the state capital. Its architecture successfully blends functionality and beauty. The emphasis on sizable, well-organised sectors with specific functions, like residential, commercial, and educational, sets Gandhinagar's urban planning apart. The city's dedication to environmental sustainability, demonstrated by its numerous green initiatives and emphasis on eco-friendly practices, allows the city to successfully blend urban life with the natural world.
Where we go wrong with it
Urban planning can go wrong in several ways, including failing to adequately address community needs, from poor transportation systems to neglecting affordable housing options. Such issues can strain the local economy and increase social issues. It can also cause environmental damage due to inefficient land use and inadequate infrastructure. All these can lead to increased traffic congestion, limited accessibility, and a diminished quality of life for residents. To avoid these pitfalls, urban planners should prioritise a holistic approach that considers the social, economic, and environmental needs of the community.
The importance!
To manage the rapid urbanisation, cities must have the necessary infrastructure and services (water, sanitation, healthcare, etc.) to accommodate the growing population. This is exactly what urban planning ensures. Numerous issues, such as overcrowding, traffic jams, a lack of basic services, and heightened susceptibility to natural disasters, result from neglecting urban planning.
Economic losses and environmental deterioration are further consequences of poor planning.
Marginalised groups might be disproportionately impacted by the consequences of poor urban planning, which can also worsen already-existing inequalities.
Due to a lack of proper infrastructure and emergency response systems, these cities are also more vulnerable to earthquakes, flooding, and other natural disasters.
Cities may become even more susceptible to the consequences of rising temperatures, sea levels, and extreme weather events if climate change projections are ignored in urban planning.
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