SMART & SUSTAINABLE: BUILDING CITIES “FOR THE PEOPLE”

Government is aiming for smart and planned growth through 100 smart cities but, what often gets overlooked is that cities should be designed for the people who live there. As Jayesh Hariyani, Chairman & Managing Director, INI Design Studio rightly remarked, “We are invariably bombarded with words like smart and sustainable these days but it is important to first understand the true essence of these words to have a productive conversation.”

N K. Patel, Founder- Director, Sun Builders stated, “By 2050 half of the global population is going to turn urban. Urban means city and cities are always attractive for their job and growth opportunities. Thus migration or urban explosion is inevitable and we must walk the talk while we address the theme of sustainability in shaping a safer, more livable and economically viable cities.”

Yatin Pandya, Founder & Principal Architect, FootprintsEarth mentioned, “There are two ways to go about it, one is to go by projection and the second one is to reverse the projection. We are not going to sustain if it’s only about the cities. That’s why we must relocate and rebalance resources to arrive at a more balanced, sustainable and manageable structure. The prime concern is how do we improve the quality of life across communities? For planned growth we need to strengthen the intermediate cities, redistribute the density thereby creating efficient distribution of public spaces and services. Make these smaller pockets stronger and self-reliant.”

Sameer Sinha, Director, Savvy Group said, “Unfortunately or fortunately GDP exists in the cities. The cities offer economics, and a promise for a better life. These are chief driving factors behind migration. The problem with India is that a lot is dependent on town planning. There is seldom any engagement between the government and the citizens. These are complex issues but cities are a reality that we can’t overlook.”

Ar. Prashant Parmar, Founder & Principal, Shayona Consultant concurred, “Rural dwellers migrate to the cities with an aspiration to live a more convenient life. There are pros and cons attached to this theory of movement from villages to bigger towns. Coming years will definitely see more migrants settling in cities and urbanization will remain a blatant truth.”

Kamlesh Bellani, Director, Rushabh Group added, “When we talk about smart cities, we mean self-sufficient establishments wherein the resources are utilized in an optimized way. Sustainability is nurtured by an enriching urban setup. Smart and responsible citizens make a smarter city. Educating people about the value of natural resources augments the city life.”

WHAT MAKES A CITY A LIVABLE CITY?

Yatin Pandya commented “Smart city has to be self-sufficient, offer infrastructure and be inclusive, endorsing equality for all citizens. Urban farming and renewable energy can add value to the community.”

Sameer Sinha asserted, “I am not in favor of the title ‘smart city’. I would rather call it a friendly city or an inclusive city. Technology is just a small component of it. There is a more dominant human factor attached to it.”

According to Ar. Prashant Parmar Smart and sustainable must work in harmony to respond to housing needs and rapid urbanization in cities.

K. Patel said, “A city which optimally utilizes local natural resources for the betterment of the inhabitants is a true smart city in my opinion. A city that promotes healthier ideas of water conservation, food waste management, transport solutions etc. is a good city. ”

Kamlesh Bellani shared, “Everyone has a role to play, right from the architects and authorities to industries, builders and citizens. Goal is to identify the challenges of a city and deal with them sensibly.”

Jayesh Hariyani agreed, “Smart city is the one which wishes to learn from its mistakes and improve efficiency and productivity to fabricate a conducive environment for its citizens.”

INTERMEDIARY CITIES ARE SMALL AND MID-SIZED SETTLEMENTS OR AGGLOMERATIONS THAT CONNECT METROPOLITAN AND RURAL AREAS. INSTEAD OF MAKING FEW MEGA CITIES INTERMEDIARY CITIES SHOULD BE ENABLED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO ABSORB THE RISING POPULATION.

SMART DENSITY PLANNING IS REQUIRED TO RETHINK URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS IN TERMS OF SOCIO-SPATIAL QUALITY OF INHABITANTS. SINCE HOUSING IS A CONDITION MORE THAN A SHELTER, CREATING LIVABLE RESIDENTIAL AREAS IS A CRUCIAL ISSUE.