Future of Cities

This book critically analyses the existing condition of cities in developing countries with special reference to planning and infrastructure networks in India. It provides an overview of the nature of opportunities presented by cities; major challenges that cities would face in future; and codifies the ways and means to transcend the challenges of contemporary urban growth and quality of urbanisation. It discusses key themes such as architecture of density, transformation of land-use zones to development zones, development of railway infrastructure, planning and design guidelines for bus rapid transit, and urban water planning and universal access to housing to create an enabling environment for deliberations and a better future for cities in the developing world.

The book integrates insights from governance, planning, and design and highlights implications of spatial integration. It brings together current issues in Indian urbanisation, smart technologies used in building smart cities and high-rises, and urban and regional governance to explore forms of sustainable development planning that factor human needs.

Accessible and topical, this book will be useful to scholars and researchers of urban studies, urban and city planning, development studies, sociology, public policy and administration, political sociology, anthropology, architecture, geography, and economics, as well as to professionals, planners, policymakers, and non-governmental organisations.

1. An Introduction - Future of Cities: Planning, Infrastructure, and Development; PART I: Governance of Cities 2. Planning for Urbanisation and Economic Growth: Addressing Urban and Regional Governance Issues in India; 3. Governing the City-Region: Rethinking Urban and Regional Governance in India; 4. The Smart Cities Mission and City Planning in India; 5. Water Governance in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India; 6. Drinking Water for All: Rurban Water Planning in India; PART II: Production of the Built Environment 7. Future of Zoning: From Land-Use Zones to Development Zones; 8. Rethinking High-Rise Urbanism: Design Strategies and Planning Tools; 9. Reclaiming Urban Practice for India: What Can Design Teach Us?; PART III: Movements of People, Goods, Information, Ideas 10. Planning and Design Guidelines for Bus Rapid Transit in Indian Cities; PART IV: Future-Proofing Cities 11. Conclusions - Urban and Regional Planning Futures: Integrating Infrastructure, Governance, Technology, and Design