The minister emphasized sustainable urban environments and better urban planning as 50% of the population are expected to reside in cities by 2047.
Present issues related to Urban Planning
- Out-dated Spatial & Temporal plans fail to accommodate population growth.
- Lack of modern planning framework, rigid master plans and restrictive zoning regulations
- Housing Issues: E.g. building regulations often limits urban density leading to proliferation of slums. E.g. 17.3% of the total urban population was under slums in India (Census 2011)
- Environmental challenges such as air pollution affect people’s health and productivity, diminishing quality of life.
- Lack of disaster resilience for cities: E.g. Chennai Flood (2015) caused due to encroachment of lakes and riverbeds
Steps to be taken
- Enhancing Ease of living: by empowering staff with skills and knowledge required to plan better and manage cities
- Use of data and Technology: to make capacity-building initiatives a catalyst for strengthening urban governance.
- Integration of Traditional Wisdom: To reimagine historic Indian cities and shape future cities.
- Develop cities as examples of equity, equality, and sustainability: with use of innovation and citizen centric governance to achieve inclusiveness, especially for marginalized communities
Initiatives taken
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