The challenge of unbridled and unbalanced growth of urban spaces in India necessitates reforms in urban planning and capacity. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words)

The challenges are :-

-i- Mindless expansion of urban spaces has led to

Ecosystem: encroachment of wetlands

eg Mumbai

Urban flooding eg Chennai

-ii- Concretization has created unique challenges

eg Urban heat island effect

-iii- Impacts biodiversity

eg Disappearance of sparrows

-iv- Lack of inclusion creating dichotomous utter of rich & poor

eg Dharavi slums

-v- Hotbeds of diseases

eg Pandemic spread began from congested urban areas

-vii- Sprawling informal sector which is vulnerable & dispensible w/no social secular

eg migrant severe migration in COVID

Measures & Reforms are Imperative for

I Urban Planning

-i- Architectural knowledge must be leveraged

eg Greater Noida has no red light Chandigarh on lines of Harapian civilization

-ii- Inclusive infrastructure

eg BRT lanes in Delhi were a disaster

Need for cycle lanes

Footpath

Street vendor counters!

-iii- Drainage system

Avoid plastic logging

Regular desiltation

in light of concentrated rainfalls

-iv- Public transport must be strengthen

eg Germany made public transport free of cost drivers traffic jamne

II Capacity

-i- Reduce encroachment of wetlands

-ii- Use of 'Bioswales' model of growth to ensure absorption of excess water

-iii- Sponge cities as seen in China which tackles rainwater with 30% urban population contributing to 70% GDP, in urban areas require an overhaul with Blue Green infrastructure (Niti Bhat Committee) for a

New India @+5? (ANR Agarwal)?

— Ishitha Kishore · AIR 1