Why in the news?

  • The southern zone Urban Development Ministers meeting was held in Bengaluru.

Urban Planning in India

  • What is it?: 
    • Urban planning in India involves the design and management of the physical, social, economic development of cities and towns.
    • It includes land use, transportation, housing, environment, infrastructure, and public service planning.
    • The goal is to create sustainable, inclusive, and livable urban spaces to meet the needs of growing urban populations.
  • Significance of Urban Planning:
    • India’s urban population rose from 17% in 1951 to over 36% in 2021, expected to reach ~50% by 2047.
    • Urban areas contribute ~65% of India’s GDP (NITI Aayog).
    • Planned urbanization ensures:
      • Efficient land use and transport
      • Climate resilience
      • Affordable housing
      • Balanced regional development
      • Reduction of slums and congestion
  • Key Components of Urban Planning:
    • Land Use Planning: Zoning cities for residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational purposes.
    • Transportation Planning: Designing efficient road networks, public transit, and traffic management systems.
    • Infrastructure Development: Access to water, sanitation, electricity, and waste management.
    • Environmental Management: Promoting green cover, pollution control, and disaster resilience.
    • Housing and Social Facilities: Affordable housing, schools, parks, and healthcare access.
    • Economic Development: Encouraging business growth and job creation within urban areas.​
  • Key Schemes and Policies:
    • 74th Constitutional Amendment (1992): Mandated establishment and empowerment of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for decentralized governance.​
    • Smart Cities Mission: Focuses on sustainable and citizen-friendly urban infrastructure.
    • AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation): Emphasizes water supply, sewerage, parks, and urban transport.
    • National Urban Challenge Fund (Budget 2025-26): ₹1 lakh crore fund to finance urban infrastructure with PPP and bond mechanisms. Cities to raise ₹40,000 crore via municipal bonds and loans.​
    • National Geospatial Mission: Uses geospatial data integrated with PM Gati Shakti for urban planning, land record modernization, and infrastructure projects.
    • Schemes for Urban Planning Reforms: Financial and policy support for reforms including building bylaws modernization, Transit Oriented Development (TOD), Transferable Development Rights (TDR), In-situ slum rehabilitation, and sponge city development.​
    • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)
    • Urban 20 (U20) under G20 Presidency: Focus on sustainability and inclusivity.
    • ‘500 Healthy Cities Programme’ (Proposed): Focuses on health-centric urban planning via integrated spatial, health and social development planning.​
  • Challenges:
    • Planning fragmentation and overlapping roles between multiple agencies and levels of government.
    • Inadequate financial resources and poor revenue generation by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
    • Low accountability and weak institutional capacity.
    • Rapid unplanned urban growth leading to congested, polluted, and underserved areas.
    • Lack of coordinated metropolitan and regional planning.
    • Deficits in infrastructure provision and maintenance.
  • Way Forward:
    • Integrated Urban Planning Framework: Coordination between land use, transport, housing, and environment.
    • Empowered Urban Local Bodies: Devolution of finances, functions, and functionaries (3Fs).
    • GIS & AI-based Planning: Adoption of digital twins, spatial data infrastructure, and simulation models.
    • Capacity Building: Through National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.
    • Citizen-Centric Governance: Participatory planning and smart governance tools.
    • Sustainable & Resilient Cities: Climate-adaptive designs, renewable energy integration.
    • Urban Finance Reforms: Strengthening municipal bonds, PPPs, and credit enhancement mechanisms.