Urban Planning Needs to Be Integrated with Atmanirbhar Bharat, Says ITPI’s New President NK Patel
“India needs to put in special efforts to create infrastructure for the future,” says newly elected chief of Institute of Town Planners India NK Patel
NK Patel, a gold-medallist town planner and leading real estate developer from Ahmedabad, has taken over as President of the Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI), the premier national body of town planners.
The role of urban planners is “ever-evolving”, and “has broadened from being focused just on land use, to now also encompass transport, economy, and the environment. Town Planning will become more and more critical for proper development of cities, and it needs to be integrated with Atmanirbhar Bharat and other government schemes for the best outcomes, opines the new chief.
“Urban planning needs to be integrated with Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swachh Bharat, Smart Cities, AMRUT and other relevant national and state programmes and schemes. Urban planning can complement these schemes, and make them more focused and effective by bringing in greater synergy in planning and execution,” said Patel. the first professional from Gujarat in nearly half a century to be elected as office bearer of ITPI, said Patel.
Developing Infrastructure with futuristic vision
“As India becomes increasingly urbanised, due to ever-expanding cities and large rural migration, there is a need to develop urban infrastructure accordingly. Special efforts are needed in urban planning to ensure that the infrastructure meets not just the present requirements, but also those arising 20-30 years into the future,” Mr. Patel said.
He cited slum-free cities, affordable housing, better public transport facilities, water & waste management, and sustainability as areas of central focus for town planners as well as decision-makers.
“These are some of the areas that need to be brought into our planning frameworks, academics, and practices. ITPI will put in its best efforts to usher in structural transformation in these fields,” Patel added.
Source: Business Wire India
