The future lies in cities, but urbanisation will be tricky

Planners have to be thoughtful because cities are not just habitats, but a legacy

Areport titled India 2030 – Exploring the Future ,by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India and global property consultant CBRE, has said that India’s future is urban, but the transition will not be easy. The report is in line with what the census data have been showing. According to the 1901 census, the population in urban areas was 11.4%. This has increased to 31.16% in 2011. The urbanisation process will not be without challenges in cities — poverty, lack of affordable housing, overcrowding and environmental degradation.

However, urbanisation is also an opportunity for India to design a fresh approach to mitigate the strains that will develop as cities expand. This is because the choices that India makes to manage urbanisation will have consequences for its people and economic future. While India will have its own process of development, it can learn from other cities that have been turned around with funding, governance, policies and planning. India must also be ambitious when it comes to urbanisation because cities are not just about infrastructure, but also about the quality of life they provide. This is what the best cities of the world are focusing on today. Singapore is wrapping its high rises with vertical gardens and building pocket parks; and China is building a new green, low rise model city: Xiongan. As India designs its response to urbanisation, it must choose from these inspirational choices. Planners have to be thoughtful about shaping cities because they are not just building brick-and-mortar habitats, but a legacy.