EXPERTS URGE RETHINKING OF INDIA`S URBAN STRATEGY

Released on: June 11, 2008, 4:00 am

Press Release Author: Deepak Gupta

Industry: Advertising

Press Release Summary: In a symposium hosted by Urban Habitats Forum yesterday on
"Shaping Cities of Our Future" experts opined that urbanisation is an integral part
of economic development process and India's future is going to largely depend on the
manner in which we urbanize.

Press Release Body: In a symposium hosted by Urban Habitats Forum yesterday on
"Shaping Cities of Our Future" experts opined that urbanisation is an integral part
of economic development process and India's future is going to largely depend on the
manner in which we urbanize.
Urbanisation in India is slowly but surely emerging as a significant trend
challenging the classic perception of an India of villages. 30 % of the Indian
populace lives in urban areas and contribute to over 90 % of the GDP. Over the last
fifty years, while the country's population has grown by 2.5 times, in the urban
areas it has grown by 5 times.
Kiran Karnik, President, India Habitat Centre laid down the agenda of Urban
Habitat's Forum and discussed the implication of urbanization in India. "I feel very
passionately about how cities are today and what they can be tomorrow. I hope that
Urban Habitats Forum serves as a platform that can make our cities more liveable and
also play a larger role in shaping India's emerging urban centres thus India's
future." said Mr.Karnik.
Sanjeev Sanyal, Regional Chief Economist, Deutsche Bank and founder Urban Habitats
Forum emphasized on the soft aspects of urbanisation. "I think great cities are
about human interactions and clusters. So the critical need is to create urban
spaces where people can interact and lead a good life. Successful urban planning is
therefore about organically integrating the hard and soft infrastructure. There
cannot be a "mechanical" approach but one that explicitly thinks of the city as an
evolving eco-system." he said.
Philipp Rode, Executive Director, Urban Age; Associate, Cities Programme, London
School of Economics & Political Science spoke on "Shaping Cities of Our Future". He
revealed the findings of the Urban Age India Conference held in Mumbai last year and
released the Urban Age India Report. "India's urban agenda is clearly a global issue
given that India is the second most populous country in the world. Indian cities are
faced with issues of social equity, of overloaded infrastructure and environmental
sustainability. The way these cities will deal with these problems and how the
upcoming cities will be planned can have a decisive impact on the world at large."
said Mr.Rode
Anupam Yog Founder & Managing Director of Mirabilis Advisory who anchored the
discussion concluded that building successful cities which drive economic growth
while reducing poverty will be critical to the future of India.
Historically India has been averse to the phenomenon of urbanization. The current
response towards urbanization is also marked by short-term and quick-fix solutions.
But, there is a critical need to develop innovative ideas for future cities with a
long term view. The symposium attempted to better understand the opportunities and
challenges that existed in shaping that vision and implementing it.
About Urban Habitats Forum
"Urban Habitats Forum\" is a public private partnership between India Habitat Centre
and Mirabilis Advisory. It provides a collaborative platform for a network of
multidisciplinary thinkers and change-makers to push for innovation in shaping the
next generation of cities in India. UHF aspires to influence by creating a platform
for intelligent discourse through a variety of events, pioneering research along
with result-driven advocacy.
About India Habitat Centre
The India Habitat Centre was conceived to provide a physical environment which would
serve as a catalyst for a synergetic relationship between individuals and
institutions working in diverse habitat related areas and therefore, maximise their
total effectiveness.
About Mirabilis Advisory
Mirabilis Advisory is a strategic consulting firm that facilitates global exchange
between cities, regions and countries by building partnerships across the public and
private sectors. Mirabilis' patrons are institutional brands that include city and
regional governments, public-private partnerships, cultural and academic
institutions, chambers of commerce, foundations and global event-owners.
About Urban Age Project:
Urban Age project, a worldwide investigation into the future of cities was jointly
initiated by Deutsche Bank\'s Alfred Herrhausen Society and the London School of
Economics and Political Science. Urban Age is structured around an international
outreach program supporting the creation of a new urban agenda for global cities.
Its worldwide interdisciplinary network of urban experts lead an 'on the ground'
investigation of policies, developments and projects with up-to-date insights
collected and shared through conferences, workshops, seminars and publications.


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