Indian cities may not be sprawling, but their density is a major concern especially in a pandemic

In this article, Patrick Lamson-Hall, Harshita Agrawal, Kadambari Shah, and I argue how inefficient planning of city population density may have contributed to urban Indian cities becoming pandemic epicentres. We identify the critical need to make urban growth and urban informality a pressing public policy issue.

Excerpts: “This pandemic sounds an alarm about the consequences of inefficient planning and management of cities and poses an opportunity to rethink and rebuild the areas that are most important to the country’s growth. Now is the time to rectify perennial issues such as archaic FSI restrictions and static city development plans. Undertaking such reforms in combination with policies to promote public transport, widen streets and improve the overall efficiency of urban governance will help navigate India’s rapid urbanisation.”

Read the full article here.