INDIAN URBAN PERSPECTIVE - INTROSPECTION

Indian Urban Perspective – Introspection

At present Indian urban population is about 38 Crores (32% of total population) and its growing at a rapid phase and even Government’s focus is on urbanization. Urban situation in India is totally different when compare to western countries due to our socio-cultural factors other than the employment generation.

 For example city like New York (USA) with about 8.5 million population, is having about 90% of the population who are self dependent and attend to their domestic needs on their own. Indian situation is totally different with about 60% require domestic help and 25% drivers, other than security and other support systems. Indian cities Delhi- 23 , Mumbai – 20, Kolkata- 14.5 , Chennai- 8.9, Bangalore 8.6,  Hyderabad – 7.9 million population , closely followed by Ahmadabad, Pune, Nagpur  with average 20% population living in slums, another 30% population with below/middle incomes looking for rental incomes, having a larger negative bearing on urban infrastructure, illegal constructions, occupation of public places.  

With this present condition and further growth in these major cities is it really possible to implement smart cities, Swachh Bharath effectively and achieve desirable results? Our existing infrastructure in core cities as well as new infrastructure created in extended areas is grossly inadequate to meet growing needs. For example if one individual house is converted into an apartment complex of 15 to 20 families, imagine the extra load on infrastructure. Are we in a position to scale up the infrastructure proportionately? In fact our old infrastructure quality is much better than the newly created infrastructure, resulting in major problems in extended city areas.

Last year in Chennai, few months back in Pune, few weeks back in Mumbai, this week Hyderabad – they are literally submerged under water due to continuous rains. Even during average rainfall for couple of days drains are getting choked, roads are damaged, washed away, submerged , mosquito menace etc, resulting in making our cities vulnerable to all sorts of problems.  Is the growing urbanization is real solution for otherwise agrarian country like us? Is it not time for us to focus on these issues and workout a multidimensional strategy keeping the sustainability, growth, needs etc in view. These shall be few strategies which have come to my mind.

·         Cities above 3 million population- Aim at zero growth immediately, followed by negative growth in next five years.

·         Cities above 5 million population- Stop migration, stop adding new IT/Service/finance sector jobs, stop/discourage new high-rise apartments

·         Cities with 10 to 20 million population- focus on quality infrastructure such as good roads, metro, airports etc so that fresh investments shall be attracted in IT & elated sectors.   

 

·         5 to 10 million population cities can be identified as future growth engines and plan the infra/ opportunities growth in phased manner. 

·         Below 5 million population cities can be designed as pollution free environs encouraging congenial living for retired people and to promote education institutions.

·         Encouraging reverse migration to villages after retirement or for better opportunities in agriculture/ allied sectors.

BG Reddy 9866889246

grbonthu@gmail.com