The urban future with cities as dynamic ecosystems

• Cities today are central to economic growth, policymaking, science, and technology, yet urban planning often overlooks the social realities of diverse urban populations.
• A persistent disconnect exists between:
  • Cities as designed by planners,
  • Cities as imagined in policy visions, and
  • Cities are inhabited by residents, especially migrants.

About Urbanisation

• Urbanisation refers to the gradual shift of population from rural to urban areas, resulting in the physical expansion of cities, rising population density, and concentration of economic activities.
• This process is driven by factors such as industrial growth, employment opportunities, migration, improved living standards, and better access to education, healthcare, and services.

Urbanisation in India

• Population Share: Urban residents constitute about 36% of India’s population (2024), with projections indicating this will cross 50% by the 2050s–60s.
• Migration: Over 35% of India’s population now lives in urban areas, driven by migration.
• Economic Contribution: Urban areas generate nearly 65–70% of India’s GDP, despite accounting for a smaller share of the population.
• Public Transport Access: Only around 37% of urban residents have convenient access to public transport, as highlighted in the Economic Survey.
• Infrastructure Deficit: India requires nearly 2 lakh urban buses, while the current operational fleet stands at approximately 35,000, indicating a major mobility gap.

Limitations of Contemporary Urban Planning

• Static Planning Assumptions: Urban design often assumes a homogeneous, settled population, overlooking the constant demographic churn.
• Smart Cities, Selective Access: Digitised and “smart” systems disproportionately benefit residents who already possess linguistic, legal, and digital capital.
• Governance Deficit: Planning bodies and local governments often lack cultural and demographic diversity, leading to exclusionary outcomes.
  • Public amenities such as schools, transport hubs, and parks are designed without accounting for the needs of migrants.

The ‘Invisible Tax’ of Urban Exclusion

• Language as a Barrier: Linguistic conformity often becomes an unspoken requirement for urban belonging.
  • Migrants from different linguistic regions face disadvantages in accessing jobs, housing, healthcare, and welfare services.
• Economic Consequences: Language barriers push migrants towards the informal economy, increasing vulnerability to exploitation.
  • Limited access to formal employment and public services restricts upward mobility.
• Structural Paradox: Cities depend heavily on migrant labour and tax contributions but deny equal access to opportunities and civic services.
  • This undermines long-term urban productivity and social resilience.

Cities as Dynamic Ecosystems

• Layered Urbanism: Cities are not static blueprints but evolving social ecosystems shaped by continuous migration and interaction.
• Belonging as Infrastructure: Social inclusion, cultural recognition, and emotional security are as vital as roads and housing.
• Anticipating Friction: Urban governance must proactively address tensions between established residents and newcomers.

Policy Directions for Inclusive Urban Futures

• Cultural Sensitisation: Training for public-facing officials to improve service delivery across linguistic and cultural differences.
• Inclusive Governance: Representation of diverse communities in urban planning and local bodies.
• Responsive Design: Public infrastructure must adapt to changing population profiles rather than remain fixed to static identities.
• Acceptance of Transition Costs: Temporary social disruption is an inevitable cost of inclusive growth and must be managed rather than avoided.