Redefining Urban Spaces for Tomorrow's Cities

Redefining urban spaces means planning cities around people rather than cars, with compact mixed-use neighbourhoods, reliable public transport, walkable streets, green and blue infrastructure, and climate resilience. For Indian cities, which are urbanising rapidly, this approach can improve liveability, reduce emissions and make growth more equitable.

Why do Indian cities need to be redesigned?

The United Nations' World Urbanization Prospects 2018 projects that about 68 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2050, and India is expected to add a very large share of that urban growth. Much of the urban India that will exist in 2050 has not yet been built.

Today many Indian cities face familiar problems: traffic congestion, poor air quality, flooding during the monsoon, informal settlements without basic services, and rising urban heat. Planning decisions made now will shape how millions of people live, travel and work for generations.

What is transit-oriented development?

Transit-oriented development (TOD) concentrates homes, offices and services within walking distance of high-capacity public transport stations. India's National Transit Oriented Development Policy, issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2017, encourages higher-density, mixed-use development around metro and other mass-transit corridors.

With metro systems now operating or under construction in many Indian cities, TOD is one of the most important planning tools available. It works best when stations are linked by safe footpaths, cycle lanes and feeder buses, so people can reach transit easily without a car.

What makes a street walkable and liveable?

Walkable streets give pedestrians continuous, shaded, obstacle-free paths and safe crossings. In India, a large share of daily trips are made on foot, by cycle or by public transport, yet many streets still prioritise vehicle lanes and parking.

• Continuous footpaths, ideally at least 1.8-2 m clear width, free of poles, transformers and parked vehicles.
• Shade from street trees and building canopies, essential in India's hot climate.
• Raised and well-marked pedestrian crossings at regular intervals.
• Protected cycle tracks on arterial roads.
• Active ground floors such as shops, cafes and entrances rather than blank compound walls.
• Street lighting, seating, public toilets and drinking water points.

A city succeeds when a child, a grandparent and a street vendor can all use the same street safely and with dignity. – Pranav Kadoo

— Pranav Kadoo

How can cities adapt to climate change and urban heat?

Urban heat islands make dense city centres noticeably hotter than surrounding areas, especially at night. Many Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, have developed heat action plans that combine early warnings with longer-term measures such as cool roofs and more shade.

Flooding is the other major risk. Coastal cities like Mumbai and Chennai face heavy monsoon rainfall, and building over wetlands, lakes and natural drainage channels has made flooding worse. Green and blue infrastructure, meaning parks, restored lakes, bioswales, permeable paving and protected mangroves, absorbs and slows stormwater while also cooling the city.

• Protect and restore lakes, wetlands, rivers and mangroves as part of the drainage system.
• Use permeable paving and rain gardens in parking lots and plazas.
• Mandate cool or green roofs on large buildings.
• Plant native, drought-tolerant street trees for shade.
• Keep new construction out of flood-prone zones.

What role do architects play in shaping future cities?

Every building contributes to the city around it, and architects shape that contribution through massing, ground-floor design and the way a site meets the street. A development with a permeable edge, active frontage, shaded setbacks and public open space adds to urban life; a gated tower behind a blank wall subtracts from it.

We encourage developers and public clients to think beyond the plot boundary: aligning entrances with footpaths and transit stops, sharing open spaces with the neighbourhood, and designing for mixed use so streets stay lively throughout the day. Redeveloping existing urban land, rather than spreading outward, also protects farmland and reduces travel distances.

How can housing in Indian cities become more inclusive?

Affordable, well-located housing is the foundation of an equitable city. When low-income families are pushed to the far edges of a metropolis, they face long, expensive commutes and lose access to jobs, schools and healthcare. Mixed-income neighbourhoods, rental housing, in-situ upgrading of informal settlements with water, sanitation and secure tenure, and smaller, efficiently planned homes close to transit all help. Good design keeps costs down too: repetitive structural grids, standard components and climate-responsive layouts reduce both construction and running costs for residents. Shared amenities such as community halls, play areas and local markets within walking distance strengthen neighbourhoods and reduce the need for daily travel.

In short: key takeaways

• Indian cities are growing fast, so decisions made now will last for generations.
• Transit-oriented development links density with metro and bus networks.
• Walkable, shaded streets matter in a country where many trips are made on foot.
• Green and blue infrastructure reduces both flooding and urban heat.
• Buildings should contribute to the street and the neighbourhood, not turn their backs on it.